Treasure chest

A treasure chest in Rome

A treasure chest is a chest filled with treasures. Such containers could be found in a variety of locations when reliving genetic memories through the Animus or a similar device.

History

5th century BCE

During the Peloponnesian War, the Spartan misthios Kassandra explored numerous locations containing chests of variable value. The most valuable, and also tending to be the best guarded, were the chests containing the wealth of the region. Occasionally, Kassandra also discovered chests containing legendary weapons, like the war-hammer which had allegedly belonged to Jason, a hero in Greek mythology.

1st century BCE

Durings his travels in Ptolemaic Egypt, the Medjay Bayek of Siwa found numerous treasure chests, typically inside military camps and forts, which contained weapons and pieces of gear, ranging from swords to bows and shields.

9th century

While exploring the city of Baghdad and its surrounding areas, the Hidden One Basim ibn Ishaq came across chests containing money, tools to replenish his inventory, and, in some rare instances, pieces of gear, including new outfits. Some of these chests were more secure than others and could only be unlocked using Khidmah Tokens.

Eivor and Dag opening a treasure chest

Throughout her travels in Norway, the British Isles, Francia, and Vinland, the Viking Eivor Varinsdottir found numerous chests containing money and valuable trading items. Occasionally, Eivor also discovered chests containing legendary weapons, like a shield rumored to have belonged to the goddess Morrígan.

During her raids of well-guarded forts, military camps, and abbeys, Eivor encountered large, ornate chests containing supplies that could be used to renovate her settlement of Ravensthorpe, or rare resources like carbon, nickel, and tungsten ingots, used to upgrade her gear. Because of their size, these chests could only be opened with the help of one of Eivor's fellow clanmates.

15th century

Chests in banks were protected by four armed guards, but those scattered inside cities were usually unguarded, or protected by only one or two guards. Those outside of cities however, such as in the Apennine Mountains, were not guarded at all. In Rome and Constantinople, though not usually directly guarded, nearby archers would attack Ezio if they saw him opening chests on rooftops.

Renaissance banks typically contained two chests, and while they were always guarded by three or four men outside the doors, more guards usually patrolled nearby. Rebecca Crane once stated that although all families owned banks, the Pazzi family owned the most by far, and that breaking into them would be worthwhile. However, guards affiliated with the House of Borgia were assigned to attend the banks containing Codex pages.

A group of Borgia guards protecting a bank

Art merchants also sold treasure maps that marked the locations of the chests in an entire city, or in one of its districts, with the maps varying in price. They costed between 150ƒ to 395ƒ in the city of Florence, 150ƒ in the Appennine Mountains, 285ƒ in Monteriggioni, 175ƒ to 240ƒ in Tuscany, 235ƒ to 260ƒ in Romagna, and 485ƒ to 995ƒ in Venice.

During the Reconquista, the Spanish Assassins found numerous treasure chests in the locations they visited, which contained money and other valuable items, like metals used to upgrade their gear. To access a treasure chest, the Assassins typically had to deviate from their main path and defeat the soldiers guarding the chest, as well as break or pick its lock.

Additionally, an Apple of Eden that was recovered by the Spanish Assassin Aguilar de Nerha was stored in a small, ornate chest.

16th century

During the late Sengoku period, the Kakushiba ikki members Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke found numerous chests scattered around Japan containing money, trade goods, and resources that could be used to renovate their hideout. Larger chests, like those found in kofuns and castles, always contained legendary pieces of gear, but were also more difficult to access. For instance, castle chests could only be unlocked using keys gained from assassinating the castle's samurai daisho.

18th century

Edward opening a buried chest

During the early 18th century, the pirate Edward Kenway located a significant number of treasure chests, both guarded and buried, throughout the Caribbean. Some chests were found inside underwater shipwrecks and contained schematics to upgrade Edward's ship, the Jackdaw.

Edward's son, Haytham Kenway, and grandson, Ratonhnhaké:ton, also found chests throughout New York, Boston, and the Frontier. However, these chests differed from those in Renaissance Italy by the fact that they required lockpicking to access their contents.

Upon liberating the districts in Boston and New York, Ratonhnhaké:ton received the key to all the chests located within the liberated district, eliminating the need for lockpicking. Additionally, he gained the key to all Frontier chests. However, chests located inside forts always required lockpicking.

Ratonhnhaké:ton lockpicking a chest

Certain treasure chests were guarded by dogs. Ratonhnhaké:ton could lure them away using hunting bait, or kill them. Accompanying this, maps that detailed the chests' locations could be purchased from general stores.

During the French Revolution, the Assassin Arno Dorian located chests, usually guarded and locked, scattered throughout Paris, Versailles, and Franciade.

19th century

During their time in London in 1868, the twin Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye came across a number of chests, usually on rooftops or inside buildings, which needed to be lockpicked and contained money, pieces of gear, or schematics to upgrade the twins' already existing gear.

Valuable items

Aside from money, chests found in Rome could also contain a variety of trade items. These could later be sold to shops, or traded for other valuable items or equipment. They could vary between common objects, such as jars of leeches, or valuable jewelry.

Ezio opening a shrine's treasure chest in a lair of Romulus

Chests could also be found in the many lairs of Romulus. Aside from money and valuable items, one special chest per lair could be found in its shrine, which contained one of six keys that unlocked the door to the Followers of Romulus' greatest treasure.

Chests in Constantinople often contained bomb ingredients, replacing trade items.

Chests in the American colonies contained recipes for items that could be crafted by the artisans in the Davenport Homestead. Scattered across the colonies were small trinket boxes which Ratonhnhaké:ton retrieved for the sailor "Peg Leg" in exchange for letters from William Kidd, helping him locate the map to Kidd's treasure.

Trivia

Assassin's Creed

• Templar knights would sometimes be found guarding chests, however these could not be opened.

Assassin's Creed II

• There were 330 treasure chests spread over the four cities and mountains, as well as two hidden chests in each secret location.
• In general, the amount of florins in each chest increased with every new city and district Ezio traveled to, presumably due to the increasing cost of weapons and armor.
• Investing in the Monteriggioni well, mine, and church through the Villa Auditore would grant Ezio access to two additional chests in each of the three locations.
  • There were also two chests in Ezio's room, in the top floor of the villa. These chests, despite being golden, only contained 200ƒ to 600ƒ.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

• In the memories "Escape From Debt" and "Follow the Money", two golden treasure chests may be found in Francesco Troche's house.

Gallery

• 
  An Isu chest
• 
  Concept art of an Athenian military treasure chest
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  Concept art of a Spartan army treasure chest
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  A treasure chest during the Reconquista
• 
  Aguilar's Apple and the chest it rested in
• 
  Aguilar's Apple in a metal chest covered in Templar crosses
• 
  An Italian Assassin opening a chest
• 
  Edward opening an underwater chest
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  Two open treasure chests
• 
  Arno opening a treasure chest
• 
  Jacob unlocking a locked chest

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations
• Assassin's Creed III
• Assassin's Creed III: Liberation
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue
• Assassin's Creed: Unity
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Assassin's Creed film
• Assassin's Creed: Identity
• Assassin's Creed: Origins
• Assassin's Creed: Rebellion
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  • The Fate of Atlantis
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
  • Wrath of the Druids
  • The Siege of Paris
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice
  • Creed vs Crows (non-canon)
• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple
• Assassin's Creed: Mirage
• Assassin's Creed: Shadows
• Assassin's Creed: Jade