Piece of Eden

A Piece of Eden is a type of sophisticated technology created by the Isu which reacts with the network of neurotransmitters engineered into human brains. With the notable exception of the Shrouds of Eden, the majority of the Pieces of Eden were designed for the primary purpose of mentally and physically controlling human thoughts, emotions, and behavior. They were, therefore, the main instrument by which the Isu forced the humans to serve as slaves.
The powers of the Pieces of Eden have mystified humanity over millennia, enough for them to conflate them with "magic" throughout history. The Isu civilization's extinction following the Great Catastrophe only reinforced this, as memories of the Isu faded into legends and myths. Since humans lack the technological expertise to reproduce these devices, they have long been the subject of innumerable conflicts between rival humans seeking them for their own ends. In particular, they are a central obsession of the Templar Order, which has devoted much of their resources to searching and seizing these artifacts in their quest for world domination.
==Description==
Although most classes of Pieces of Eden, such as the Apples and Staves of Eden, were utilized as tools by which humanity could be controlled, others deviated from this purpose. For example, the Swords of Eden are primarily weapons capable of emitting energy blasts, while the Shrouds of Eden are medical in nature, designed for healing even the most mortal of wounds.
The diverse functions of the devices extend further: many are capable of bending the thoughts of one or more individuals to that of the user, projecting illusions, or concealing the user's presence. The Precursor boxes, powered by other Pieces of Eden, can imprint the memories of its users onto others and decode examples of Isu script, like the Voynich manuscript. Other functions are more mundane relative to modern human technology, such as hologram projection or the Crystal Skulls which act as long-distance communication devices, but these nevertheless appeared supernatural to ancient peoples.
Since the end of the Isu civilization, these devices, appearing sporadically in the hands of humans, have acquired a status as legendary relics of phenomenal properties. Greatly eclipsing the technological level of human civilization, even into modern times, the Pieces of Eden bestow tremendous power over society to those who come to possess them. Their employment has therefore had immense impacts on human history; some of the most influential leaders such as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Mahatma Gandhi were aided by their use of a Piece of Eden.
Recognizing their significance, the Pieces of Eden have been at the forefront of the Templar Order's goals for centuries as they hope that by exploiting the artifacts, they could achieve their vision of a New World Order. The contest for the Pieces of Eden between the Templars and their archenemies, the Assassins, who traditionally seek to safeguard them, has been a hallmark of their millennia long war.
==History==
==Characteristics and attributes==
Amongst the greatest tools known to man, the Apples of Eden can control the human mind by interacting with a neurotransmitter located deep in the human brain. Other Pieces of Eden are capable of warping reality, creating illusions, ensuring total obedience and healing physical injuries.Assassin's Creed IIAssassin's Creed: Project Legacy
thumb|250px|left|Bombastus observing a Crystal Skull
Both Templars and the Assassins believe that the Pieces of Eden were responsible for many historical tales and miracles, such as , the Trojan War, Jesus of Nazareth's miracles, and the Biblical plagues that ravaged Egypt.Assassin's Creed – Assassination (Majd Addin) According to Dr. Álvaro Gramática, all Pieces of Eden are made of an unknown metal resembling gold or silver that Abstergo dubbed "pathorica".Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – Database: Reconstructed Data 002
===Abilities of a Piece===
Some Pieces of Eden were known to interact with and change the passage of time, possibly creating paradoxes. Others were able to "speak" to those who wielded them, as was the case with the Italian Assassins Ezio Auditore with his AppleAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel and both Perotto Calderon and Giovanni Borgia with a Shroud.
When activated, Apples of Eden are capable of extending a pulse of energy that can drive those in the surrounding area to insanity and death. Doing so has a detrimental effect on the physical health of the wielder if they are unskilled in the Apples' use, but a capable user is not as easily afflicted.Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood The Levantine Assassins' Mentor Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, for example, was able to use one Apple for a limited duration without adverse affects at age 92.Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Passing the Torch Using the Pieces' powers in short bursts can also minimize the negative effects dealt by the artifacts, though to what extent is unknown.
====Destruction of a Piece====
Following the destruction of Altaïr's Apple during an experiment at the Denver International Airport, the Templars found themselves in need of another artifact with similar properties. To that end, Abstergo kidnapped the American bartender and former Assassin Desmond Miles in order to view the memories of his ancestor AltaïrAssassin's Creed – Modern day and ultimately saw a holographic map that Altaïr discovered in 1191 of various Piece locations.Assassin's Creed – Assassination (Al Mualim)
Each of the Pieces of Eden contained a great deal of potential energy, and the destruction of one could cause an explosion on the scale of a nuclear blast. One such explosion occurred in 1908, in the region of Tunguska, Russia. The Imperial Sceptre, one of the Staves of Eden, was seemingly destroyed when Nikola Tesla fired at the Tunguska facility with his wireless electric weapon, attempting to strike a blow against the Templars.Assassin's CreedAssassin's Creed: The Fall – Issue #2
However, the blast failed to totally destroy the Staff and at least one shard remained.Assassin's Creed: The Fall – Issue #3 The Staff shard still possessed powers of mind control, as demonstrated by Grigori Rasputin. While he was in possession of the shard, he brainwashed Tsar Nicholas II's wife as well as several disciples like Khioniya Guseva.
===Resistance===
Although the Isu created humanity to be susceptible to the Pieces of Eden, eventual cross-breeding between them and their slaves led to the birth of a hybrid species. These new humans possessed some of the natural abilities of their creators and were free of the neurotransmitter necessary for the Pieces of Eden to control them. The first two known hybrids were Adam and Eve, who later stole one of the Apples of Eden and instigated the Human-Isu War.
Members of their lineage inherited these natural abilities and immunity to the Pieces, although the Pieces' ability to physically manipulate them remained. These traits were passed down through generations. By the early 21st century, the Templars were aware that some humans were immune to the Pieces' mind control. On at least one occasion, Dr. Warren Vidic received an email from one such individual who had witnessed the mishap in Denver and threatened to expose what they had seen when an Apple was used on others.Assassin's Creed – Warren Vidic's email: Subject line: "I KNOW"
==Known Pieces of Eden==
Unless otherwise noted, current status of the item is unknown.
===Apples of Eden===
ACU Apple of Eden 1 render.png|link=Apple of Eden 1|Apple of Eden 1
ACO Apple of Eden.png|link=Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden 2
ACIII Apple of Eden 3 render.png|link=Apple of Eden 3|Apple of Eden 3
Apple of Eden.png|link=Apple of Eden 4]|Apple of Eden 4
Apple of Eden.png|link=Apple of Eden 5|Apple of Eden 5
Ezio's Apple render.png|link=Apple of Eden 6|Apple of Eden 6
ACS A Simple Plan 14.png|link=Apple of Eden 7|Apple of Eden 7
ACM Aguilar's Apple of Eden Render.png|link=Aguilar's Apple of Eden|Aguilar's Apple of Eden
ACO Akhenaten's Apple of Eden Render.png|link=Akhenaten's Apple of Eden|Akhenaten's Apple of Eden
ACV SoG Apple.png|link=Gull's Apple of Eden|Gull's Apple of Eden
Treasure Hunter's Apple.png|link=Treasure Hunter's Apple of Eden|Treasure Hunter's Apple of Eden
Isle of Skye Apple.png|link=Isle of Skye's Apple of Eden|Isle of Skye's Apple of Eden
===Atlantis artifacts===
ACOD Prize of the Cyclops.png|link=Prize of the Cyclops|Prize of the Cyclops
ACOD Prize of the Sphinx.png|link=Prize of the Medusa|Prize of the Medusa
ACOD Prize of the Sphinx.png|link=Prize of the Minotaur|Prize of the Minotaur
ACOD Prize of the Sphinx.png|link=Prize of the Sphinx|Prize of the Sphinx
===Rings of Eden===
ACIII-RingofEden 1.png|link=Rings of Eden|Rings of Eden
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Hnituðr|Hnituðr
===Shrouds of Eden===
Philippi, Macedonia.png|link=Shroud of Eden 1|Shroud of Eden 1
ACS Shroud of Eden.png|link=Shroud of Eden 2|Shroud of Eden 2
===Spears of Eden===
ACV Gungnir Full render.png|link=Gungnir|Gungnir
Spear of Leonidas.png|link=Spear of Leonidas|Spear of Leonidas
===Staves of Eden===
Alexander's Staff Concept.png|link=Scepter of Alexander the Great|Scepter of Alexander the Great
AC The Fall Imperial Sceptre Render.png|link=Imperial Sceptre|Imperial Sceptre
AC2 Staff of Eden render.png|link=Papal Staff of Eden|Papal Staff of Eden
Hermes' Staff render.png|link=Staff of Hermes Trismegistus|Staff of Hermes Trismegistus
ACReb Staff of Eden.png|link=Shattered Staff of Eden|Shattered Staff of Eden
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Venetian Staff of Eden|Venetian Staff of Eden
Sceptre Aset.png|link=Scepter of Aset|Scepter of Aset
===Swords of Eden===
ACU Sword of Eden.png|link=Sword of Eden 1|Sword of Eden 1
Sword of Eden 2.png|link=Sword of Eden 2|Sword of Eden 2
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Perseus' Sword of Eden|Perseus' Sword of Eden
ACV Excalibur full render.png|link=Excalibur|Excalibur
ACOD Sword of Damokles.png|link=Sword of Damokles|Sword of Damokles
===Other Pieces of Eden===
AC2A - Ankh.png|link=Ankh|Ankh
ACV Glenat - Codex of Eden 2.png|link=Codex of Eden|Codex of Eden
ACFT - Crescent Amulet.png|link=Crescent amulet|Crescent amulet
ACFT - Pieces of Eden.png|link=Southeast Asian Pieces of Eden|Two unindentified Pieces of Eden
AC3 Crystall Ball.png|link=Crystal Balls|Crystal Balls
AC4 Crystal Skull render.png|link=Crystal Skulls|Crystal Skulls
Patience Gibbs' Charm.png|link=Patience Gibbs' charm|Foresight Amulet
DYL-Fountain of Youth.png|link=Fountain of Youth|Fountain of Youth
FragmentOfEdenBoxACP.png|link=Fragment of Eden|Fragment of Eden
ACV Freya's Medallion.png|link=Freya's medallion|Freya's medallion
ACV DoR HugrRip Render.png|link=Hugr-Rip|Hugr-Rip
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Imperial Jade Seal|Imperial Jade Seal
ACBM Koh-I-Noor Render.png|link=Koh-i-Noor|Koh-i-Noor
ACV The Cost of Betrayal 15.jpg|Lia Fáil
ACRev Memory Seal Masyaf Key.png|link=Memory Seals|Memory Seals
ACV Mjolnir full.png|link=Mjölnir|Mjölnir
ACV Odin's Eye Render.png|link=Odin's Eye|Odin's Eye
ACIProphecyDisk.jpg|link=Prophecy Disks|Prophecy Disks
ACRG Precursor box.png|link=Precursor box|Precursor boxes
AC Twelve Trials Odyssey Q5 Pyramid Isu full.png|link=Pyramid (Isu)|The Pyramid
ACUp Saturn's Scythe.png|link=Scythe of Eden|Scythe of Eden
Shard of Staff.png|link=Shards of Eden|Shards of Eden
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Stone of Scone|Stone of Scone
ACLD Trident of Eden render.png|link=Trident of Eden|Trident of Eden
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Tui Bei Tu|Tui Bei Tu
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Vejovis' dagger|Vejovis' dagger
==Other Isu artifacts==
Unless otherwise noted, current status of the item is unknown.
ACV AncientBeacon render.png|link=Ancient beacon|Ancient beacon
AC4 Antikythera Mechanism.png|link=Antikythera mechanism|Antikythera mechanism
AC4 Baghdad Battery.png|link=Baghdad Battery|Baghdad Battery
ACI Blood vial.png|link=Blood vial|Blood vials
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Eye|Eye
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Global aurora borealis device|Global aurora borealis device
The-Iron-Man.jpg|link=Iron Man|Iron Man
AC3 Desmond Cube 2.png|link=Power sources|Power sources
ACO Artifact Fragment.png|link=Artifact Fragments|Pyramid fragments
ACV TheSagaStone.png|link=Saga Stone|Saga Stone
ACV DoR Salakar Render.png|link=Salakar|Salakar
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Śarīra|Śarīra
ACV DoR Silica Render.png|link=Silica|Silica
===Armor===
ACS The Aegis.jpg|link=Aegis|Aegis
ACOD FoA JoA Armor of the Dikastes.jpg|link=Armor of the Dikastes|Armor of the Dikastes
ACOD FoA Fallen Set.jpg|link=Armor of the Fallen|Armor of the Fallen
ACV Fallen heroes set tier 3 render.png|link=Fallen Heroes set|Fallen Heroes Set
ACOD First Civilization Set front view.png|link=First Civilization Set|First Civilization Set
ACO Isu Armor 2.jpg|link=Isu Armor|Isu Armor
ACMir Milad's Outfit.png|link=Isu Armor|Milad's Outfit
ACV - Mythical Set - Thor Helmet.jpg|link=Thor's Set|Thor's Set
===Crowns of the Sister Realms===
ACOD FoA ToH Crown of Hades.png|link=Crown of Hades|Crown of Hades
ACOD FoA JoA Crown of Poseidon.png|link=Crown of Poseidon|Crown of Poseidon
ACOD FoA JoA Prototype Crown.png|link=Prototype Crown|Prototype Crown
===Keys and Cores===
AC3 Grand-temple-key render.png|link=Grand Temple Key|Grand Temple Key
Wiki noimage.jpg|Heart
ACL Heart of the Brotherhood.png|link=Heart of the Brotherhood|Prophecy Disk key
Saint-Denis Temple key.png|link=Saint-Denis Temple key|Saint-Denis Temple key
ACMir - Mysterious Shard.png|link=Isu Shards|Isu Shards
LightsAmongTheDunes22-ArtifactA.jpg|link=Seth-Anat stone|Seth-Anat stone
===Shields===
ACV The Morrigan's Guard Mythical.png|link=The Morrigan's Guard|The Morrigan's Guard
===Weapons===
ACOD Atlantean Blade.png|link=Atlantean Blade|Atlantean Blade
ACV Blazing Sword.jpg|link=The Blazing Sword|The Blazing Sword
ACV Gae bolg render.png|link=Gae Bolg|Gae Bolg
ACOD Hammer of Hephaistos.png|link=Hammer of Hephaistos|Hammer of Hephaistos
ACO Lucius Septimius' flails.png|link=Lucius Septimius' flails|Lucius Septimius' flails
ACOD Forged Mace of the Isu.png|link=Mace of Atlantis|Mace of Atlantis
ACOD Minotaur's Labrys render.png|link=Minotaur's Labrys|Minotaur's Labrys
ACV Nodens' Arc.png|link=Nodens' Arc|Nodens' Arc
ACOD Polyphemos Cyclops Bludgeon.png|link=Polyphemos Cyclops Bludgeon|Polyphemos Cyclops Bludgeon
ACMir Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar.png|link=Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar|Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar
ACOD FoA JoA Staff of the Dikastes.png|link=Staff of the Dikastes|Staff of the Dikastes
ACMir The Samsaama.png|link=The Samsaama|The Samsaama
ACOD Poseidon's Trident Concept Art.png|link=Poseidon's Trident|Poseidon's Trident
ACOD Hades Bident Concept Art.png|link=Hades' Bident|Hades' Bident
Wiki noimage.jpg|link=Swords of Fal|Swords of Fal
==Trivia==
*During his battle with Rodrigo Borgia in the Sistine Chapel, Ezio created copies of himself, much like Al Mualim did against Altaïr. If Ezio's robes are customized, or if the Armor of Altaïr is worn, his copies appeared with different sets of armor and colors. If he was not customized, each copy would be perfectly identical to the real Ezio, besides his weapon.
*Both the Codex map and the map projection show that there were only fifty Pieces of Eden at that time, though Subject 16 said the Shroud was Piece of Eden 66. In the French and German version of Assassin's Creed II, the Shroud was referred to as number 36, not 66. This however, was an oversight.
*The Chalice was initially thought to be a Piece of Eden; however, besides the Shroud, all other artifacts linked to Jesus were confirmed to be merely literary tools.
==References==
fr:Fragments d'Éden
ja:エデンの果実
pt-br:Peças do Éden
es:Fragmento del Edén
zh:伊甸碎片
Category:Isu technology
Category:Legends