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Launch Day: AC Partnership Program News Share 1 Dec 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're proud to announce the launch of a new community initiative known as the AC Partnership Program. The aim of the program is to promote and share content created by community members, and we are now establishing a network of dedicated and passionate fans who are all individually working on AC related projects. Each one of our partners brings something different to the table, and all of them will be adding their own unique projects to our new Community Hub , a database which will store the projects. We have been working behind the scenes for four months on the new website, and we have almost finished the huge task of adding all past projects to the database. It's now time to think about future projects, and the AC Partnership Program is one which will continue to thrive as regular content is released. We are always on the look out for new members, so if you believe the program is for you, simply message one of our admins and we will be in touch. We currently have nine members on the program, all of whom are now working hard on their next project. Learn more about our members here. The initial idea for the program comes from a desire to help hardworking members of the community who are passionate about creating content. We believe that with the help of TOWCB admins, and our social media influence, the projects created by our members will be viewed by a larger audience, and will gain a regular following. In return, we will have new and exciting content on our new website, and members will help us with projects such as fundraising and giveaways. We can't wait to see what our talented members create next! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

AC Community Questions: RS (WonDerNooB) Interview Share 4 Jan 2026 Written By: Edited By: RS (WonDerNooB_VP) Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome back to another article in our Assassin's Creed Community Questions series, made up of interviews with Assassins based around the world. This week, we are joined by RS ( WonDerNoob ), who joined our Assassin's Creed Partnership program as a member of the Virtual Photography Team in 2025. Col: Hi RS, thank you for joining me for this introductory interview. Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role within the Assassin's Creed Community. RS: Hiya Col, I'm chuffed to even be considered for an opportunity to join the team, and even be interviewed. I'm RS, based in Malaysia. I'm a father of a 5yo girl and 3yo boy, and I work a white-collar job so they don't starve ;D I have been doing VP since Feb 2024, starting with AC: Odyssey, and it is by coming across TOWCB and TPM that opened my eyes to the wider VP community outside of Reddit and the in-game photo-mode sharing in the game itself. When it comes to the Assassin's Creed Community, I see myself merely a contributor to the amazing VP community that helps bring out the best of the games' visuals, captured in photos. Profile picture for RS Col: In July 2025, you joined The Ones Who Came Before's Assassin's Creed Partnership Program, known as the Isu_Network. How have you found working alongside the virtual photography team? RS: The team is absolutely great - I find it interesting that most, if not all of us have families of our own and still find the time to pursue this little hobby of ours. Aaron's written commentary in the #ACFirstCivVP articles again was one of my first introductions to actual commentary on VP outside of the generic "nice shot!" you'd get elsewhere, so I'm glad I get to be a part of that currently. Col: How excited are you for the future of Assassin's Creed? RS: Quite excited - outside of the overall studio and the series' direction, I'm glad to see more photo-mode features rolled out in the recent AC: Shadows update which enabled time-of-day, poses, expressions - all of which should be considered a baseline for games' photo modes. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game have you been playing recently, and which game are you playing next? RS: It is AC: Odyssey. Playing since early 2024 until only recently, I've just put it down and considered it the end of my Odyssey (ha!). If my PC allows it, I'll probably move to either one of Valhalla, Mirage, or Shadows for my next AC game. Col: Have you visited any of the locations from the games? RS: I've studied in England, so I probably have visited some cities that are in AC: Valhalla - London, York, to name a few. Map of the UK in Assassin's Creed Valhalla Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? RS: It's probably a common answer, but AC II was my gateway drug into the series - everything about being nigh invincible, climbing structures, the story's explanations in Ezio's introduction game hooked me in. I might be looking at it through a nostalgic lens but it was groundbreaking for its time. Col: Have you attended any events within the Assassin's Creed Community? RS: No Col: Do you have a favourite Assassin's Creed community moment/ story you would like to share? RS: I guess one of the bits of info that ties in with this story is that I'm an avid Redditor, and I post semi-actively in the AC: Odyssey subreddit - most of what I post is (you guessed it) virtual photography, and getting a large amount of engagement with the Odyssey subreddit on some of my posts would be my highlight. I've also made some friends from there, as part of the wider VP community Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show or future game? RS: I'd like a show that is set during The Crusades - I guess something like a series focused on Altair or somebody else during that time period Promo image for Assassin's Creed (2017) Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? RS: It's VP-related of course, winning a VP competition using shots from an AC game! Col: What would you say is your most significant community achievement to date? RS: I think getting to join TOWCB/Isu Network would be it. Col: What is your favourite part of being a community member? RS: Getting to engage with others! Col: Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? RS: I don't, but I'd love to have a hidden blade or Leonidas' spear. Col: What advice do you have for people looking to get into content creation? RS: I don't consider myself one, but content creation to me should be quality over quantity, with a baseline quantity. You still need consistent enough engagement for your stuff. Col: Where can our community members find you online? RS: Bluesky: wondernoob.bsky.social comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author RS (WonDerNooB_VP) is a virtual photographer who joined TOWCB in 2025, helping the team to grow and expand across multiple platforms. Since joining the team, RS has provided assistance with theme coordination, VP article launches and testing our photo mode features, releasing incredible lifelike captures. In 2026 and beyond, we hope to continue building our relationship with both RS and the Assassin's Creed virtual photography community, and look forward to seeing all future VP content. RS (WonDerNooB_VP)

A Tightrope of Rebellion - A Review of Assassin’s Creed: The Magus Conspiracy Reviews Share 26 Jun 2022 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database The war between Assassins and Templars wreaks havoc in the Victorian era, in this breakneck thriller which opens up a whole new chapter of the Assassin’s Creed universe. London, 1851 – When Pierrette, a daring acrobat performing at the Great Exhibition, rescues the mathematician Ada Lovelace from a gang of thugs, she becomes immersed in an ancient feud between Assassins and Templars. But Lovelace is gravely ill, and shares her secrets with Pierrette, sending the acrobat in search of a terrible weapon which she’d been developing for a shadowy figure known as “the Magus”. Pierrette’s only ally is Simeon Price, Lovelace’s childhood friend, who belongs to a Brotherhood devoted to free will. With Simeon’s aid, they uncover a startling web of political assassinations destabilizing Europe. As they race to foil the Templars’ deadly plot, murders and bombs are everywhere they look, but hope is nowhere in sight. *Review copy provided by Aconyte Books | Minor character/story spoiler warning My Assassin’s Creed journey started in January of 2021, when I began working through the vast universe of Assassin’s Creed in order of the Genetic Memory, or historical period explored within the Animus. At the time of this article, I am about to start the latest DLC with Dawn of Ragnarök, and recently have finished reading the previous novel released by Aconyte Books; Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Sword of The White Horse. So for the last few months, I split my time between 9th Century England and the Italian Renaissance as my Genetic Memory playthrough could not wait until the next piece of media was released. Luckily I did not have to wait long, as I was provided with a review copy for Assassin’s Creed: The Magus Conspiracy. A new original from Aurora Award-winning author, Kate Heartfield and the Assassin’s Creed Stories transmedia line. Written as a political thriller during the time of the Great Exhibition in 1850s England, this story had me intrigued immediately from the synapsis on the book’s website and back cover. Ada Lovelace, mathematician and a woman considered to be the first computer programmer, developed a weapon called “The Engine of History” with a ''shadowy figure'', The Magus. Two main characters, an acrobat named Pierrette and a soldier named Simeon Price work together to find this device during a time of political assassinations and rebellion. The cover is one of the greatest artworks that I have seen yet for an AC novel, designed by freelance illustrator Bastien Jez. Being an original story, the artwork is not just a piece of key art from a video game, but an intricate design with characters from the book. However, while the Magus at the top, Pierrette in the middle, and Ada Lovelace on the left are all recognizable, I did have trouble identifying the two men on the right. While this did not hinder my enjoyment of the book, it did leave me with that question unanswered. The colours though feel very fitting to the era of the story in the pre-Victorian period, showing class and wealth that reflect the lifestyle of a lot of the characters within such as Lovelace. The history through this book covers so much over a decade of storytelling, with each event intertwined with the Assassin’s Creed series. The book opens on the HMS Birkenhead, a naval ship that crashed off the coast of Africa in 1845. It is here that we are introduced to Simeon Price, a Lance-Corporal in the 74th Highland Regiment of the British Army. After the ship is damaged when it hits an uncharted rock formation, Simeon attempts to help his fellow countrymen that are trapped below deck in rapidly flooding water. It's at this time that a mysterious figure drops down upon a Lieutenant on deck and runs to join him in rescuing the soldiers. The man invites Simeon to visit his Brotherhood in Vienna if he chooses to leave the army. Yet, history has a different plan for him that day and Simeon, along with the rest of his regiment are ordered to go down with the ship instead of abandoning as ordered by the captain. This chapter alone is a perfect example of the action, history, and the mystery of the Assassin’s Creed model. By introducing this original character to the underlying story of the AC universe, readers are provided a fresh introduction to a secret war of factions that have been told over the last fifteen years. The second character is introduced in the following chapter. Pierrette is a French acrobat in a travelling circus troupe who is known for their equestrian performances. When the original male performer that closes their show with a riding depiction of the poem “Mazeppa” by Lord Byron breaks his collarbone, Pierrette convinces the leader of the circus to allow her the chance to close out the show near the Great Exhibition. While performing this dangerous feat which involves riding a horse up a ramp that is built above the crowd, the young acrobat sees a woman being taken against her will from the tent. With her acrobatic skills, Pierrette lifts the woman into the air and out of the clutches of a gang of men, helping her escape to the park outside. This woman is the intelligent socialite and mathematician, Ada Lovelace, a woman that introduces her saviour to a life of art, wealth, and intrigue. Whilst her historical illness begins taking its toll, Ada opens up to the acrobat about her plans for a machine that could be devastating to the world if it was ever built. Ada’s request of her newest and most interesting friend is to locate a man that she grew up with years ago to help destroy her horrific creation before it ended up in the wrong hands; a man named Simeon Price. The remainder of the book is divided between the two protagonists, with Simeon searching for a Brotherhood that he hopes to learn more from and understand conscience and choice over order and servitude. A brotherhood that teaches him how to hide in plain sight, and see the world in a different light that will better his ability to identify the innocent from the unjust. His journey will introduce him to an Assassin named Oscar Kane, who takes him in as an apprentice and teaches him the ways of the Assassin, and the ways of the modern man. The detail of how the new Assassin hopeful is trained was one of the best sections of this novel, as lists of real world books, that are provided for the character to study, giving us, the reader a great idea of what an Assassin would learn outside the swordplay and combo chains from a controller and game tutorial. His training introduces him to the Templar order, as well as historical men of the various European rebellions as the book’s antagonist, The Magus, starts to show their hand in orchestrating multiple assassination attempts on the highest figures in the country using the working man as his weapon of choice. Pierrette’s adventure is built around her traveling family and her yearning to become something more, to become famous. Her time with Ada Lovelace allowed entry into the world of fashion and the ability to befriend artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his wife, the model Lizzie Siddal. Her time traveling through Europe will lead her further into the intertwining story of the Assassins vs Templars and the unknown Magus that both she and Simeon are searching for. Pairing the two together against futuristic weapons and the ghosts of their pasts. All aspects of the Assassin’s Creed lore are present; The history of the Assassin v Templar war, the Precursors (Isu) and the artefacts that they created which provide unimaginable power, scenes of combat and synchronization points when characters climb famous landmarks across Europe, mentions of Eagle Vision, character cameos from another AC property, and one of the best Easter eggs I have seen yet in a novel, referencing the name of Master Assassin, Ezio Auditore. Yet, you do not need to know anything about the rest of the AC universe to enjoy this title, as it holds its own with no issues of not understanding the overall lore of the series. The Magus Conspiracy is the first of a new trilogy of Novels under the series, “The Engine of History”. The books will cover the second half of the 19th century, up until World War I. With a good section of the Magus Conspiracy taking place in Austria, I could easily see the story continuing through the Age of Rebellion and the Industrial Revolution until closing the trilogy with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the death that started the first World War. This could also intertwine Jacob and Evie Frye from the Syndicate games Historical figures such as Rasputin and Vladimir Lenin. We could even see the return of Assassin Nikolai Orelov, if the Engine of History moves further east into Russia. This book made me excited for the future of the franchise and introduced me to a fantastic writer, Kate Heartfield. The research that Kate put into this story is very thorough as I was able to find information on all of the historical figures and events that took place and read an accurate retelling that made this story stand out from previous releases. Each political assassination attempt that fueled the plot, was enhanced by the original characters attempting to discover the identity of the antagonist. I found this to be the strongest historical fiction book thus far, as the number of Assassin’s Creed Originals at the time was limited to the book Assassin's Creed: Heresy by Christie Golden, a title that I enjoy as well. While all of the AC Story Classics that Ubisoft had released are good novelizations of the games they represent, the transmedia thrives with the unique Chronicles and Original labels as they have more freedom to create a new story in the expanding universe. Assassin’s Creed: The Magus Conspiracy releases globally as a digital release and in the US in Paperback on August 2, 2022 & paperback in the UK on October 27, 2022. Assassin's Creed: The Magus Conspiracy is available to purchase on Amazon. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

From the Desk of Hytham the Acolyte - A Review of AC Valhalla: Journey to the North Review Share 26 Jul 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal (Moonchildgecko) from TOWCB Art Team. Deluxe Edition photos by Aaron Young (Falconswift87) from TOWCB Writing Team. Article contains Amazon affiliate links that support TOWCB. One of the current discussions that has been prevalent in the past few years is the lengths of the RPG line of Assassin’s Creed titles vs those of the “classic” games. AC Valhalla being the latest entry in the series (as of this article) was well known to require hundreds of hours for players to dig in and experience the full story of Eivor and her Raven Clan coming to England with a pair of secretive warriors known as The Hidden Ones , to search for their shared enemy in The Order of the Ancients . Eivor traveled across the English countryside, the shores of Ireland, and the streets of Paris while also exploring the influences of Norse Mythology throughout this epic tale of starting over in a new land. However, unlike previous entries which documented the game, such as novelizations, strategy guides, or outside publications. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was expanded upon via multiple pieces of transmedia, but never provided an overview of the complete two-year content line. Even the art book that was released after the game only covered the main game and was more concept art of the landscapes and character types, but not every aspect was represented. Cover Art of Journey to the North In July of 2023, a new transmedia artbook/journal was released for what appears to be the end of the Valhalla story as we begin to transition into Assassin’s Creed Mirage. In The World of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North - Logs and Files of a Hidden One, fans of the series are provided a complete overview of the AC Valhalla story and updated art book told through the eyes of Hidden One, Hytham the Acolyte. This 208-page book is the ultimate text of the story of what occurred in the main game and the paid DLC expansions. The Deluxe Edition photos provided by Aaron Young Deluxe Edition Spine Deluxe Edition Art Prints Journey to the North (as it will be referred to for the rest of this review) is available in two versions as many of the previous art books have been: The standard hardback for $49.99 USD and the Deluxe Edition for $99.99 USD. The deluxe edition comes in a special brown leather style cover contained in a teal slipcover with a folio featuring two art prints. I had originally planned on purchasing this one, but decided to get the standard one for now as I just wanted to read the book and didn’t see a personal value in the double price deluxe option. However, after seeing the images from fellow The Ones Who Came Before writer, Aaron Young, I wish I had. Yet, it is nice to have the concept art cover that I have shared in the image above. The book opens on an overview of what is to follow from the in-world author Hytham. The book is divided into five sections, each one having a vast amount of content organized in such an easy to read format that I applaud the book’s author Rick Barba for. Rick is a well known video game author with over 130 publications to his name including books and guides for series including Assassin’s Creed, God of War, GTA, Red Dead Redemption, and Star Trek to name a few. Previously he wrote Assassin’s Creed: Through the Ages for Scholastic Books during the content window for AC Syndicate. If you collect video game books, you most likely have something of his work without even knowing it. Entry on Sigurd Styrbjornson The first section which covers the Viking Lifestyle gives a history of the Vikings compiled through Hytham’s research and time with the Raven Clan. Speaking with and learning from the people of Ravensthorpe as well as information provided by Jarlskona Eivor Varinsdottir via the plot of Valhalla, Hytham spent time understanding the history of the people that he now considers family, the Viking people. It is in the first pages of the book that I recognized that Hytham was constantly busy while Eivor was progressing through the story of the game. I always felt that Hytham seemed static like a set-piece outside of the mission lines he would provide players, but this book gives him a life that the game was lacking. Having a detailed, but short history of the Vikings and how the Raven Clan came to England is a strong start for the book. Hytham's notes on Odin and Frigg In the second chapter, the full mythos of the Norse gods are presented, both in the story of the Dawn of Ragnarok expansion and the history of creation in the Norse myth and the gods that are worshiped by those around Hytham. Each of the Aesir is described and most of them are presented with the game image from the character’s Codex entry in the game. This is expanded on with the stories of the myths from the creation of everything to Ragnarok itself. It is also here where we can learn Hytham’s thoughts on the Viking beliefs and on the gods, including Loki whom fans know to be the Isu that is hosted by Sage Basim Ibn Ishaq, Hytham’s Mentor. A few of the buildings in Ravensthorpe The Viking Settlement is explored in the third section of the book and this is broken down as a tour of the Ravensthorpe settlement, with each building and citizen of the home to Eivor and Hytham discussed. What I liked most about this section is that each shop is very detailed in what it does and what it offers the people that live there, but also as what it does for players of the game. Knowing that the tanner, Wallace in the Hunting Hut can provide you with trophy mounts for completing special hunts, or that Yanli at the Trading Post can sell you decorations for the settlement, and tattoos for Eivor makes this section not just a travel guide for the settlement, but a guide for players to know who to see about their in-game needs. Eivor sitting with Oswald of East Anglia The last section before the Epilogue is The Viking Age, which is the full story breakdown of the main game, Wrath of the Druids, and Siege of Paris. Hytham describes the region, the Major Factions & Sects, and the Key Events for each “sequence” of the game. It is because of this section that I highly suggest this book for anyone that wants to revisit the game or read through the story without the required playtime. While everything recorded is from Hytham documenting Eivor’s recollection as she turns in the Order Medals from her clearing England from the Order of the Ancients, and later from her informing Hytham of what happened in other countries, his detailed writings of the events of the game provide more than enough information to understand the story without the traveling distance, filler content, or unnecessary dialogue. This is the closest that we will get to a novelization of Valhalla. Eivor (Male) in Concept Art for Seige of Paris The book closes with the Epilogue which is a closing entry from Hytham as he thanks Eivor for her efforts in riding England of the Order of the Ancients, and that his biggest regret is that of his mentor Basim, whom he still cannot believe betrayed the Norse siblings Eivor and Sigurd. He then gives half of the page to speak on Basim’s past which is a heavy reference and transitional text to Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Learning about Basim’s swift rise from street thief to Mentor and how Hytham was tasked with his first mission in Constantinople to keep an eye on Basim and report back to the Brotherhood. Yet, while Hytham understands that Basim’s actions drove him out of the light of his teachings, he hoped that he found the peace he was looking for. Basim Ibn Ishaq from Assassin's Creed Mirage While there isn’t a large amount of direct references to AC Mirage outside of the book’s final page, the written thoughts of Hytham reacting to Basim’s betrayal, of Basim having a son, and on Loki (not knowing the link to his mentor), there is enough to excite players for the next entry in the series. The epilogue alone made me more excited for October 12, 2023 when we will be able to play the new game. Hytham in The Golden City by Jaleigh Johnson I’ve said it multiple times in the past when talking about the transmedia for AC Valhalla and some of the 9th Century content, that Hytham is the anchor for the Valhalla epic. Yes players control Eivor, but outside of the game, Hytham is present in six titles (including the game and this book) and has interacted with multiple storylines and characters. He’s been a guiding hand for all of the transmedia characters in the Valhalla story, Niamh in Sword of the White Horse, Geirmund of Geirmund’s Saga , and in The Last Chapter content update for Valhalla (which is not covered in this book) he takes in a new class of Hidden Ones from the members of Ravensthorpe. Many argue that Valhalla had no Assassins (much like Origins and Odyssey), but I argue that we do have an Assassin in Hytham as the underlying focus of the entire story for this game linking lead characters together like Agent Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I do wish there was more coverage of the free content updates like the Mastery Trials, The Forgotten Tombs, and The Last Chapter, but I can understand that not all of this content was available for this book at the time of release, or even when it was being written by Rick Barba. Some of the region overviews felt a bit short and not all characters were presented with an image and to agree with fellow TOWCB writer, Aaron, not all of the character shots from the game are the best composition or option for a profile photo. I would be curious to know if these were taken by the author, or provided from Ubisoft. I was happy to see game images with concept art, but do wish there was a higher quality at times. Concept Art of Bárid mac Ímair, King of Dublin My bottom line with The World of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North - Logs and Files of a Hidden One is that it is a must have for fans of the game or the series in whole. I could even suggest it to fans of history as this is a fun historical fiction journal from a character in that time period. Nothing is incorrect historically, but may not be something that actually took place in the 9th Century Viking Expansion of England. The additional artworks for the DLC that we didn't have with the original Art of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is something that I would love to see from future games that offer DLC, and hopefully we can see something for older titles if they get remasters. With Mirage around the corner, I’m hoping additional transmedia is provided as it is my favorite aspect of the series by far. The book is available now in the US from publisher Dark Horse Books for the Standard Edition at $49.99 USD, or the Deluxe Edition for $99.99 USD. If you have interest in purchasing the book, consider using our affiliate link with Amazon to help support articles like these and The Ones Who Came Before. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Remembering Mohamed Hamdy In Memoriam Share 22 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database We are saddened to hear of the tragic death of Assassin's Creed Egypt co-founder Mohamed Hamdy. The news was announced today in a Twitter post released by the team. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. ''It is with a heavy heart that we share the devastating news of passing of our dear co-founder after a long fight with illness, Mohamed Hamdy. His loss has left us all in profound sorrow, and we struggle to find the words to express the depth of our grief. R.I.P Mentor.'' Assassin's Creed Egypt Mohamed Hamdy Community We would like to take a moment to reflect on Mohamed's life and remember his contributions to the Assassin's Creed community. Back in 2017, we were thrilled to work alongside Assassin's Creed Egypt on the opening episode of our documentary series titled 'Global Networks'. Founders Shady Nasr and Mohamed Hamdy travelled to the Egyptian pyramids to record the episode, and we loved their energy and passion for the community. Tributes ''It was an absolute please to work alongside Mohamed and Shady on the first episode of Global Networks back in 2017. I loved how the pair were so passionate about creating an Egyptian branch of the community, and the video inspired many Arabic-speaking Assassins to unite. Mohamed was an instantly likeable person with a warm demeaner that we in the Assassin's Creed community will miss terribly.'' Colum Blackett (The Ones Who Came Before Team Leader) If you have a tribute or memory of Mohamed you would like to add, please get in touch with the admin team. Requiescat in Pace Brother comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

Spring 2020: Assassin's Creed Community Projects To Watch Community Share 26 Mar 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Spring is finally here, and even under the terrible circumstances affecting the world, members of the Assassin's Creed Community are working on projects from home. Here are our top 6 projects to keep an eye on this Spring, in no particular order. 6: Modern Day Fan Art Check out this fan art for a new present day Assassin's Creed character by Valery Black. The hood resembles Charlotte de la Cruz, but the robes keep a traditional appearance, giving the character an overall classic look. The artist has named her Assassin Alith, meaning 'seasoned warrior' in old English. Alith would have fit in perfectly to the Assassin's Creed Titan comics series, or even the follow up series titled Uprising. So far, only two images have been released, but we're hoping to see a lot more from Valery in the future! 5: Eagle sculpt Next up we have a sculpted eagle, which has been handcrafted by Instagram user Valara Atran . The piece will be used as part of a Spartan helmet, taking it's inspiration from Assassin's Creed Odyssey's eagle companion Ikaros. This alone would take a great amount of time, and the level of detail required truly is incredible. You can begin to imagine what the finished product will look like. The next stage of the process is likely a careful first coat of paint, so don't forget to follow Valara on Instagram to follow her work. 4: Kassandra Sketch Considering this is Instagram user Artophily's first ever Assassin's Creed drawing, it's fair to say it's going well. The shading really gives the artwork a sense of depth, created using only pencils. Although the sketch is a WIP, we can't wait to see the finished piece! Head over to Instagram and drop a like, and maybe they'll cover more Assassin's Creed characters in the future! 3: Assassin's Creed Art Sale Speaking of talented artists, our very own Lisa Zaman from the AC Partnership Program has kindly donated a number of Assassin's Creed art prints, which are available now at our Facebook Store! All of the profits raised go towards our Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser , which has so far raised over £400 for The Italian Red Cross, who are doing everything possible to battle the CoronaVirus. The prints are only on sale for a limited time, so act fast Assassins! 2: Ezio Sketch We've got another WIP Assassin's Creed sketch on the list, this time by commnity artist Fernando Huitz. Ezio is a fan favourite, and rightly so, and it's great to see young artists bringing the character to life. The hood is particularly detailed on this sketch, and it's a great representation of Ezio's AC Brotherhood robes. Keep an eye on Fernando's Instagram for the finished piece! 1: Templar Costume Finally, our good friend Caleb from the AC Partnership Program has revealed his latest project. Striking a solemn pose, he looks ready for battle in his Templar Knight outfit. Caleb is a huge fan of history, and regularly attends events such as Sarasota Medieval Fair, so if you see a Templar walking around, know that he's friendly and not an enemy of the Assassins! A ton of work goes in behind the scenes to make costumes, and Caleb is an extremely talented member of the cosplay community. We can't wait to see what he's got planned next! That's a wrap on our countdown, but hopefully you enjoyed this small glimpse in to the world of Assassin's Creed Community Projects. Stay safe all. Col comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: February 1st - 7th Community Share 11 Feb 2021 Written By: Edited By: Kevin (Going Viking) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome back to another round of our virtual photography showcase, which will now be guest hosted by Kevin McAllister (Going Viking) from The AC Partnership Program. Each week, five Assassin's Creed shots will be hosted here on TOWCB website in order to promote virtual photography and community contributions. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates, as we aim to bring you a great range of community captures. 1) Ancient Ruins by Sarah Gurrado This photo shouts Assassin's Creed. A stunning shot of Eivor jumping around the ruins reminds you of the Ezio days. The sun is perfectly aligned under the feet with Sýnin in the backdrop creating a shot that will instantly remind you of what makes Assassin's Creed so great. 2) Family is Home by @ Miss Misthios This silhouette shot of Kassandra and Ikaros defines Odyssey with its beauty and strength. The vibrant sky and perfect use of depth of field makes this photo resemble a painting. 3) Conquering a new world by @ NoviKaiba23 Assassin's Creed Valhalla is filled with limitless things to do and one of those things is raiding. This gorgeous photo captures Eivor blowing the horn in assassin type fashion as Sýnin soars across the sky toward the monastery. The blue sky, red leaves and fog provide this capture with the beautiful environment that Valhalla is known for. 4) Sailing Misthios by @SofaGamersRAW A unique perspective shot with a bird's eye view of a sailing Misthios in Odyssey with the crystal clear blue water. As your eye gravitates to the boat from the top of the sail you can see the ripples in the water trailing behind. Makes me want to jump right back in to Odyssey! 5) Winter Chase by @ StefanieMcMaken A peaceful moment in time. Great timing here to capture the deer running through the snow in Norway. Using the trees to frame the shot with the deer right in the middle provides a picture perfect shot. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Don’t forget to check out next week’s list when that rolls around, and be sure to send your best captures to us directly via Instagram or Twitter for a chance to be featured on it! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Going Viking started as a page focused on everything relating to Vikings including history, archaeology, Norse Mythology, video games, books, TV shows, etc. Kevin then transferred his focus to the video game Days Gone, where he began doing virtual photography, and running a blog. In early 2021, Kevin began his new position as an Online Community Specialist at Sony, working for Bend Studio. We are thrilled to see Kevin joining a company that makes the franchise he loves, but will miss him deeply on the program. We wish him the best of luck in his new position! Kevin (Going Viking)

TOWCB Team Members invited to join 'The Mentor's Order' News Share 14 Jan 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We are thrilled to announce that our team members @col_96 (Colum Blackett), @lisazamanart (Lisa Zaman) & @Ashlea_97 (Ashlea Blackett) have been invited to join a new #AssassinsCreed community program called 'The Mentor's Order', a Ubisoft Star Player initiative! Back in July 2022, Ubisoft sadly closed down 'The Mentors Guild', an established community program made up of active content creators around the world. With the introduction of 'The Mentor's Order', we once again hope to maintain a positive relationship with Ubisoft. We are also optimistic that the new program will provide equal opportunities for all Assassin's Creed Star Players, new and old. We are also excited to hear that the new program is being led by the same team behind TMG, and the new restructuring will bring community members together under one roof within the Ubisoft Star Player program! We are eager to see how the new program develops, but we are thrilled to be a part of it. Keep an eye on our social media channels for behind the scenes updates detailing our experience of the new program! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Pressed in Gold: A Review of the Assassin’s Creed - Leap Into History Limited Edition X5LP Box Set Reviews Share 26 Mar 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal ( Moonchildgecko ) from TOWCB Art Team . The 15th Anniversary for the Assassin’s Creed series is still being celebrated after 2022. There are continuous releases of merch and transmedia that are tied to the event, the latest of which is the release of the Leap Into History Vinyl Box Set from Laced Records. This release was presented in two options, a Deluxe 5LP box set for $110US, and a Limited Edition 5LP in Gold for $120US (which is now sold out). The differences between the two versions come down to the Limited Edition including a slip mat, art print, and the ‘gold nugget’ color of the vinyl records. After a few production delays, the vinyl collections shipped out across the globe this last month (original shipping date was set for January, 2023). The vinyl was shipped in a very form fitting shipping box with some packing peanuts over the cover which I liked as it is always fun to “uncover” the gorgeous black and gold packaging. The opaque images of the protagonists of the series and the Isu inspired trim of the image border gives a sleek and quality expectation of what is within the box sleeve. While it may be difficult to see in this image, the side where the vinyls are removed from the case read “Assassin’s Creed Leap Into History” on the left/top and then the disc number on the right/bottom. The order of having Disc one on the bottom which is really the front of the packaging makes sense, but it is one of those nit-picking things that I argue with myself when organizing things on shelves, in order of position. However, as vinyls should not be stored flat on a shelf, this labeling makes sense. The following section does bring up a similar issue with the decision of labeling sides A and B of a record. Side As Side Bs Each of the five vinyl sleeves holds music for two of the games, ordered by their Genetic Memory time periods (which I very much enjoyed seeing). Where my issue with this comes from, is the first side I saw when removing Disc 1, was Bayek from Assassin’s Creed Origins, or the “Side B” for this record. I understand that this comes from the Western reading order of Left to right, where with media printed for said audience, opens from the right side and is hinged/spined on the left. However, seeing each of the #AC15 artworks for the games (which was composed of the original game art with the grayscale filter and the golden logo from each game. The first set of “Side A” covers AC Odyssey, Valhalla, AC II, Black Flag, and the combo Unity/Rogue. The “Side B” shows Origins, Assassin’s Creed, Brotherhood/Revelations, AC III, and Syndicate. All of the current games with this exception of Liberation are present and broken down into different eras. When you pull out the vinyl, you have the slip sleeve that opens from the top so that the vinyl itself isn’t damaged or won’t fall out from the side. The front side of each removed sleeve has a simple design for the AC 15 release, but nothing district to speak to. The reverse sides are where the bulk of the collection’s information on the music itself. Disc 1: Classical Era, Disc 2: Middle Ages, Disc 3: Renaissance, Disc 4: Enlightenment, Disc 5: Enlightenment/Modern Era. The title of the game(s) and time period(s) are listed below the Era label, followed by the Composer(s) and the titles of the selected 5 - 9 songs for each game. The shortest list is for Brotherhood/Revelations at 5 songs and the longest is Unity/Rogue with 9. Some of my favorites are included such as the “Legend of the Eagle Bearer” for Odyssey and of course “Ezio’s Family” for AC II. I really wish there were some different sea shanties on the Black Flag vinyl such as “Running Down to Cuba” as that is a favorite of mine, but it's completely understandable that the track listings have to be limited or there would be double the number of records in the box set. The ‘Golden Nugget’ LPs are where this release shines the most. The color is so gorgeous and the stamped vinyls are unique to each individual bundle so my vinyls will not look the same as anyone else’s. They remind me of the golden sands of Origins in a way. Each vinyl has the logo for Side A or B in the center, though the placement of which way is “up” varies and isn’t lined perfectly, but again that is a nitpick. As listed on Laced’s site, the differences as I mentioned earlier are the golden color, art print, and slipmat. The art print is the AC15 logo artwork on a thin though nice quality paper. This however didn’t feel like a print but more of a protective artwork that would be on the front of a game that is removed with the plastic wrap to show the actual cover of the game. I would have liked to see a thicker print on gallery quality paper like what we have seen with the art books for the series. If I hadn’t remembered that this was an art print, it could have been tossed away by accident. Now on the other hand, the slipmat is really cool and something that fits perfect with the vinyl box set. The large golden AC15 logo to place below your vinyl to prevent damage from the record player itself. While I am new to vinyl collection, my wife who has a decent collection of albums was excited to see that it was included with the Limited Edition. As of this posting, the Limited Edition is sold out, but the Deluxe Edition is still available from Laced Records ’ US/Canada store for $110US. However as of March 10 when they announced via Twitter that the vinyl was in stock, they stated “Last few left” in that post, so it is unclear how close they are to selling out completely. Amazon US is showing a preorder for what I assume is the Standard Edition of the 5 LP bundle, at a higher price of $130US+ and a release date of April 7, 2023. So it does appear that fans can purchase the music in the future, but may not get the special packaging that the deluxe version includes. I would recommend looking into this set if you are a fan of the great music that comes from the Assassin’s Creed series so that we can see further support for physical releases in the future. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 6th - 12th August 2022 Community Share 13 Aug 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to our weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Cloak Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Platform: PS5 This week’s first capture comes from @ Junos_Wings over on Twitter. First up this week we have a bit of nostalgia, with Eivor dressed in Ezio’s Master Assassin outfit. I love the colour tones of this shot, as it add a certain quality to the photo. The light and the dark make for great symbolism of what Assassin’s Creed is all about. The shot is from a set that is truly beautiful and inspiring. Captures showcasing old outfits in the newer games give us a sense of what a next gen Ezio game would look like. Link to set 2) Huntress Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Photo number two comes from @ Birgamerinalbu1 over on Twitter. Next up we head to Greece for a bit of Kassandra dressed as a true huntress. This photo reminds me of the Assassin’s Creed graphic novels. From memory there wasn’t a comic to go alongside Odyssey which is a shame. I am always a fan of people getting creative with their virtual photography. The lighting behind Kassandra really helps accentuate her magnificent hair, but also does a great job of highlighting the incredible face paint of this set. 3) Desmond Game: Assassin’s Creed III This week’s third shot comes from @ FrameHoldPhotos , a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Photo number three takes us to this week’s AC15 celebration with Desmond, the modern assassin. This is the first time I have featured a modern day piece of VP and I am shocked these section don’t get more love. This capture really does give us an insight into what a modern day game could feel like. I always prefer the historical stuff but I would 100% love a modern day game or even a substantial DLC. Hoods, bows and swords in a city would be like AC meets Marvel and I would be down for that. 4) Wolf Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Platform: Xbox Series S VP number four comes from @ Huldera1 a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. I always enjoy wildlife shots from Assassin’s Creed games. The way the animals interact in the world is truly amazing. This impressive capture has three key elements and they all stand out in different ways. The colour of the sky is so rich, the grass slightly out of focus makes you feel like you’re there. Of course the growling wolf is the standout, fantastic timing to align all these elements. I wonder if Eivor made it away alive. 5) Ratonhnhake:ton Game: Assassin’s Creed III The final capture of the week comes from @ nkeiiin over on Twitter. I thought it only right we end the showcase with Connor himself. What a stunning portrait of the Colonial Assassin. The black background with the light pouring down onto Connor adds such an epic feel to this capture. I love the positioning as it showcases the eagle on the hood and touches of the blue on his outfit. I am also won over by the fact the bow and arrows can been seen on his back. The first playable Assassin with a bow, such good times. Checkout the set below for two more breath taking shots. Link to set And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin's Creed News Recap: 21st - 27th August 2022 News Share 29 Aug 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to a new Assassin's Creed News Recap series, hosted by Colum Blackett (Col_96) from The Ubisoft Star Players Program (Formerly Mentors Guild). Every week, we will be rounding up Assassin's Creed News and sharing it here on The Ones Who Came Before website. Keep an eye on the site every Sunday for more weekly recaps, or check out our social media links down below to stay updated on everything Assassin's Creed. 1 ) Assassins in Need Merchandise Sale Launched We kick off this week's news recap by returning to our Assassin's Creed community fundraiser, which is raising funds for The British Heart Foundation and American Heart Association. To mark £400 raised for the cause so far, we here at TOWCB launched a merchandise sale featuring a design created by team member Thea Rivedal! You can now pre-order Assassins In Need T-shirts, which are available in both short or long sleeve until the 13th September. 100% of the proceeds support the 2022 community fundraiser, so this is a great opportunity to make a difference, and also look incredible with beautiful limited edition merchandise! Huge thank you to everyone who has supported the cause so far. Pre-order your Assassins in Need merchandise now 2) More Community Creations Shared on Social Media The 15 Year Anniversary celebrations continued this week with more community content commissioned by Ubisoft. On the 24th August, the official Assassin's Creed social media channels shared two stunning new designs by Instagram user alenoc.artworks! There's no doubt that these two designs make incredible wallpapers, featuring an array of fan-favourite characters, paying homage to the series and its history. Even deeper than that though, the images could also provide a real starting point for Assassin's Creed Infinity, offering a glimpse at how a live-service Assassins' Creed game could look if handled properly. As September approaches, we are all eagerly awaiting the Ubisoft Forward event which takes place on the 10th, which is set to reveal the future of Assassin's Creed. Perhaps we will also get our first look of the mysterious 'Infinity' project? 3) Ezio Auditore Statue Unveiled in France Ubisoft proudly unveiled a huge statue of Ezio Auditore at the Saint Mandé studio in France! It technically would have made more sense to launch an Arno Dorian statue (French Brotherhood) considering the location, but no-one can deny Ezio's fame and popularity. The statue itself stands on a plinth featuring the Assassin insignia, and can be found front and centre at the entrance to the building. We love the idea that Ezio now keeps watch over the studio, working in the dark to serve the light. The statue also lends itself nicely to fans looking for a photo opportunity, and will find itself becoming popular to those adventuring out on an Assassin's Creed pilgrimage across Europe. We can also confirm that the statue is not made of chocolate, despite some confusion on Twitter. Are you going to visit the Ezio statue? Tag @ ACFirstCiv for a retweet on Twitter! 4) Fan Expo Canada 2022 The Ubisoft Booth at Fan Expo Canada 2022 did a great job at celebrating the 15th anniversary of Assassin's Creed. Those attending the event could participate in giveaways to win exclusive collector items, play the games on multiple platforms, and also take photos with life-sized statues! Ubisoft invited members of the Ubisoft Canada Guild (featuring Assassin's Creed Brand Ambassadors) to attend the event, which for many would be the first in-person AC related event in a very long time. It's so great to see the world open up again once more, hosting events on a large-scale. The Creed bringing people together is a beautiful thing. 5) Assassin's Creed Cosplay Competition at Insomnia i69 Gaming Fest (Birmingham, UK) Insomnia i69 saw a collaboration between Ubisoft, CosXpo and Insomnia, with the event hosting an Assassin's Creed Cosplay Competition to mark 15 years of the series! The cosplay competition was judged by Tabitha Lyons, Psycadillo, Helen Alice and Magnus Bruun, and hosted by CJ Allan! Awards: Best in Show: @ creedcosplay Best Performance: @ OthrysEternal Honourable Mention: @ megabethbob Huge congratulations to Jamie Oakley for winning the Best of Show award! It's fair to say that the competition was very hard to judge, so well done to all the talented cosplayers who took part and also to the judges! 6) Gamescom 2022 (Cologne, Germany) The final event featuring Assassin's Creed content this week was Gamescom 2022, which saw Assassin's Creed cosplayers looking for the PureArts booth in order to win Ezio Auditore statues and editions of Orlog! Over at the Ubisoft booth, all were welcome in the community lounge, a chill zone complete with a bar. This was no doubt a great opportunity for fans to re-energise after what can be a long and tiring day. Congratulations to all who won PureArts products! 7) Assassin's Creed Animus Next Launched Ubisoft China launched a new interactive online platform titled Assassin's Creed Animus Next! The website, which acts as a business site for Abstergo Industries, features information about the company, its history, and future plans! Users can login to the site as an Abstergo employee, unlock information about Assassin's Creed characters and win prizes! It's so cool to see a platform like this back online. After the closure of both Assassin's Creed Initiates and Project Legacy many years ago, fans have dreamt of their re-activation. This new project seems to be heavily inspired by the latter, as users would unlock information through participating in daily quizzes about the series. Although the platform and the trailer have released in Chinese, the team over at Access the Animus have translated the trailer and some of the portal menus! If you're interested in this, we suggest heading over to their Twitter account for more details. You can view the platform for yourself here. 8) The Ones Who Came Before Meet-up I was incredibly pleased to be able to meet Gustav Poulsen (host of The Memory Corridor Podcast and member of the Assassin's Creed Partnership Program) during his time here in the UK! Gustav (Gargudon), who is based in Denmark, has been a friend of the TOWCB admin team for nearly seven years now, and it was an absolute pleasure to meet in real life. I set off to Manchester via train to meet Gustav, and gave him an insight into what a UK weekend can look like. Naturally, we ended up in a pub to watch the football, but as is often the case with old friends, we reflected on the past, and how the Assassin's Creed series and community have changed over the years. We also looked towards the future, and both agreed that a more stealth-based direction could be beneficial for the series, leaving dragons and mythology behind. We'll learn more about the future of Assassin's Creed at the Ubisoft Forward event on September 10th. Although Gustav is currently taking some time away from social media, he has found comfort in his music, helping him heal after a damaging lockdown period which affected the world in so many different ways. After so many years, it felt like fate to finally meet, right on the edge of a life-changing event in my own life: the birth of my son. 9) The Golden City Synopsis released In the last recap article, we reported that several retailers including Amazon and IndieBound had listed an upcoming novel titled 'Assassin's Creed: The Golden City', written by Jaleigh Johnson & published by Aconyte Books, which is set to release February 7th 2023! Here is the full synopsis for the novel! ''A young emperor’s life hangs in the balance in ancient Constantinople, and only the Brotherhood of Assassins can save him, in this action-packed historical adventure from the award-winning Assassin’s Creed universeConstantinople, 867 – A murderous plot is afoot. Assisted by the Order of the Ancients, the emperor schemes to assassinate his son and throw the city into chaos. In response, the Hidden Ones have dispatched Assassin acolyte Hytham to join his mentor, Basim Ibn Ishaq, to infiltrate the palace and foil the emperor’s plan. But that is not his only mission… Hytham’s brotherhood have entrusted him with uncovering where Basim’s true loyalties lie and whether the master Assassin’s personal obsessions outweigh his sense of duty. For Hytham to succeed, he must tread carefully, for Constantinople is a city of shadows, and danger hides in all of them.'' We hope that you enjoyed this Assassin's Creed News Recap! You can look forward to more articles like this, dropping every Sunday! What was your highlight of the week? Let us know in the comments! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Codex Transferendum v2.0.2 | The Isu-to-English Dictionary & Language Guide Released Analysis Share 16 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: ActualSpider-Man Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to Codex Transferendum v2.0.2 , where Isu 101 is only the beginning! Inside there are 460 pages of sourced breakdowns, sentence complexity, a formulaic list of every word we’ve seen and how they’re built, followed by a comprehensive compilation of every possible rearrangement and conjugation of every root word, interpreting quite a few fun possibilities for words unseen! Hopefully this translation and language guide can help all of us solve any upcoming Isu puzzles that much faster, and for anyone interested it is entirely free to download. Enjoy, and always remember: ṇoænos wahæáid oænosr zàrhṇdichṛ Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor PDF Download comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Author of the all-encompassing timeline, Codex Temporis, and the Isu-to-English dictionary, Codex Transferendum, Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor is here to help unweave the confusing web of AC! ActualSpider-Man

Chester Comic Con Photo Album Events Share 25 Nov 2016 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database On the 25th September 2016, Col attended Chester Comic Con, and met Neil Edwards (AC Titan Comics Artist). Here are our photos from the event. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 4th to 15th March Community Share 20 Mar 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run by the TOWCB VP team. We have been monitoring the hashtag and the community hub to see all your wonderful shots. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: Assassin’s Creed Vikings Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ GwynVP The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ TuridTorkil Looking at this shot feels like coming home. Fornburg is such a beautiful settlement and I really like to return to it in the game. Gwyn did a great job capturing the Northern Lights, the majestic mountains and the warm fireplaces. Aaron “It is easy to lose one’s way on the road to glory”. The magic of Norway will never get old. Eivor’s epic saga begins in the frozen north, which gives way to some awe-inspiring backdrops. The virtual photography opportunities are endless, that is one of the reasons we still see many shots from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on social media. This beautiful capture from Gwyn really caught my eye. I just love the colours and the strong Norse vibes. Eivor looks great walking in from her longship, torch in hand. The lights in the windows of the houses look so inviting and the sheer scale of that mountain in the distance is incredible. A truly wonderful piece of virtual photography. Corner Swing Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ PodToGo “Once, I lived on the streets and answered only to myself”. The parkour opportunities in Assassin’s Creed Mirage are so much fun. The swing in this shot has to be one of my favourites, I am so glad the developers brought it back. Little moments like this really help to keep the flow when navigating the rooftops of Baghdad. I really like how Pod has captured this as a portrait, it allows for a fantastic composition. The lighting and shadow work is perfect, and Basim looks awesome swinging around the building. Action shots are extremely hard to achieve, and Pod has done tremendously well to align all the aspects in this capture. The Eyes Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Murphys_Law_Vp “Do not let false victories blind you to what is true”. The Dawn of Ragnarok DLC is a long and sad tale, unfortunately after the length of the main game it can be a bit of a slog. However, it’s an expansion that is extremely picturesque to capture and there are plenty of Easter eggs to be found. Here we can see one of them, I never fully worked out who or what the creepy being is. I assume it is some Jotunn, but it sure makes for an impressive photo. I love the framing in this shot, the trees either side of the Jotunn and the autumnal red leaves on the floor add to the mystical atmosphere. Havi seems really badass just walking away from it without a care, very impressive photography. Reflective Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ RossHiroAsmara “I will walk behind you, every step of the way.” I have found Assassin’s Creed Mirage to be great for capturing silhouettes, and the whole atmosphere of the game lends itself perfectly to this. Basim is a character who has a lot of inner turmoil, he often finds himself reflecting on who he is and what role he plays in the world. Here we have Basim in a classic Assassin’s Creed pose. I love the cinematic style of this, with the noise of the shot mixing well with that beautiful sun set. The silhouette is perfect, I adore that the sword and totem are standing out with their respective colours. A magnificent Mirage moment. The Light Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ redmaiden_vp “And maybe someday you will find the light.” I am a sucker for a portrait with a black background. I think this style works so well in the Assassin’s Creed series, especially with the slogan ‘we work in the dark’. All the RGP games have exceptional lighting which makes taking shots like this a dream. We just had to feature this capture; it is so beautifully put together. I am a big fan of the framing, and how the saturation levels heighten the details on Basim’s face. You can see how deep in thought he is, almost poised for the assassination. The Red Maiden has only just started the Mirage journey and I already know I am going to enjoy seeing all the shots. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin's Creed Shadows Year 1 Post-Launch Roadmap Full Breakdown News Share 30 Apr 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has finally unveiled an extensive post-launch roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows, aiming to enrich the player experience with lots of free content updates, gameplay enhancements, and a major expansion. Here's a full overview of what's on the horizon for the game: 1. Claws of Awaji Expansion The first DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows is scheduled for release later in 2025, this expansion continues the journey of Naoe and Yasuke on the island of Awaji, a brand-new region for players to explore which continues Naoe and Yasuke's story right after the end of Shadows' epilogue. There will be new enemies, abilities, and the introduction of a new weapon called Bo staff for Naoe. Those who pre-ordered the game will receive this expansion at no additional cost. 2. Story Drops Ubisoft plans to roll out multiple free quests for Assassin's Creed Shadows named "Story Drops," which will delve deeper into character backstories and introduce new abilities, new allies and new world activities. The first quest titled “The Works of Luis Frois”, is set to launch in early May, offering players a deeper look at the titular historical Jesuit scholar who's work about the Sengoku period of Japan endures to this day. Images via Ubisoft 3. Parkour Enhancements Responding to community feedback, the game will receive updates to its parkour mechanics. In the first update coming later in May Ubisoft will add most requested height-gaining back-ejects, fully re-animated height-gaining side-ejects, and a brand-new parkour move called the Vertical Ledge Jump, allowing both characters to jump and grab onto awnings and lower overhangs. 4. Photo Mode Upgrades The Photo Mode will also be expanded with additional filters, stickers, character poses, facial expressions, and ambient music, allowing players to better capture and share their in-game moments in feudal Japan. 5. Community Feedback Community feedback has been a core focus of Ubisoft throughout development of Assassin's Creed Shadows and there are more to come. The second Community Feedback Update in June, which will allow players to toggle the headgear on during dialogues and cutscenes, as well as customize their immersion further. Players will be free to disable individual visual effects such as weapon glints during combat, black-and-white (and red) ability filters, target assassination celebration effects, and disabling stealth outlines when the character is vanished. The Alarm System will also be expanded and are bringing it to the Open-World to give players even more challenges! 6. Future Updates Ubisoft has also revealed that the future updates of Assassin's Creed Shadows will bring more free Animus Hub content, a pretty fleshed-out New Game + mode, which will also raise the level cap, and for those players looking for a challenge, developers are hard at work on an even tougher difficulty setting for both combat and stealth. We can't wait to see what's next for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Stay tuned here at The Ones Who Came Before for all things Assassin's Creed. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

Assassin's Creed Shadows New Reddit AMA Full Breakdown Breakdown Share 15 Aug 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database The Assassin's Creed Shadows development team answered many fans' questions in the new Assassin's Creed Shadows Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything), held on August 12, about the future of the franchise, the modern-day storyline, and more. Here’s a full breakdown of the most important answers. Assassins vs. Templars in Shadows During the Reddit AMA, the developers added that the Assassins vs. Templars conflict has always been a core pillar of the Assassin’s Creed series. With Shadows, they planned to establish their protagonist in the setting before expanding on the conflict. Now that it is done in the main game and similar to the Critical Role story drop, players should expect more deep dive in this conflict in the near future. Legacy Outfits in AC Shadows The developers officially confirmed that Legacy Outfits are coming soon to Assassin's Creed Shadows, but they don’t want to spoil the surprise by telling fans exactly which ones will be added. New Information on Claws of Awajii DLC Developers have shared more new information on the upcoming Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows. In the expansion there will be no new weapons for Yasuke but there will be some new abilities for him. The main focus will be on the new Bō weapon for Naoe. That weapon will have its own mastery abilities, unique posture attacks and finishers. More Fantasy Elements in Shadows The Assassin's Creed Shadows developers confirmed that more fantasy elements, like the Dead by Daylight quest, are coming to the game. There will also be new fantasy elements. Dynamic Seasons in Future AC Games Another fan asked whether dynamic seasons will be featured in future AC games. The developers said that the development team is sharing the tech and knowledge for future titles. It’s up to them if they want to add this feature. Social Stealth Could Return in The Franchise Someone asked why social stealth was missing from Shadows, after playing such a big role in 2023’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The developers confirmed that social stealth is not gone from the franchise and could return in future Assassin's Creed games. AC Odyssey Weapons in Shadows When a fan asked whether there will be Assassin's Creed Odyssey weapons in Assassin's Creed Shadows, the developers hinted that Kassandra, who, as everyone knows, had a legendary journey across continents, might have some new Odyssey-themed weapons coming to Shadows in the future. The Modern-Day Storyline & Basim Another user asked where Basim was, why his modern-day storyline didn’t continue in Shadows, and whether he will ever return in future AC games. The developers answered this question and explained why it was missing. New Parkour Update Coming in Shadows The developers confirmed that more parkour updates will come to Assassin's Creed Shadows. They still have many plans, but they can’t share any more information right now. New Gameplay Features for Naoe & Yasuke Developers hinted that, in the future, Naoe and Yasuke might share some gameplay features in Shadows. Long Awaited Japan Setting in Assassin's Creed Shadows Developers shared their experiences and research on recreating the beautiful Japanese settings in AC Shadows. New Concept Outfit for Naoe Another fan asked if there was any chance for this particular concept outfit for Naoe to be made available in-game in the future. Developers said: Isu Elements and Assassin's Creed Lore Developers also talked about Assassin’s Creed lore and Isu elements in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Parkour Inspired from AC Mirage Developers said they love AC Mirage, and many parkour elements in Shadows are inspired by the game. Open Ending in AC Shadows Developers discussed why AC Shadows has a more open ending structure. Here are some topics that the developers have confirmed are either not coming to the game or are not planned for now: They aren't currently looking at adding a major expansion to the hideout at the moment. But they are also planning to deliver at least another customization pack for the hideout for the players that desire to acquire it. There will be no Discovery Tour mode for Assassin's Creed Shadows. No new open-world side activities for now but they are planning to expand one activity in future. Naoe and Yasuke will not be used as companions due to technical difficulties. There are no current plans for a new Hardcore mode like Mirage. No romance system in canon mode. No plans to bring back a 100% pick up rate for kunai. There will be no Torches in Shadows because a lot of walls are made out of paper, developers didn't want them to catch on fire and have all the cities quickly ablaze. An extra weapon slot for Yasuke is not in the plans for now. No plans for Naoe's default hood without the mask. But, they're planning to add a few finishers to the most popular weapons. No plans for a Mercenary system like Odyssey. There will be no hair customization in Shadows. There will be no Shogi activity/minigame in a future update. There will be no ally that uses the hidden blade in combat. Weapons in cutscenes not planned right now. These are all the important answers from the AC Shadows development team during the recent Reddit AMA. What are your thoughts on this? Share them with us below. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

Assassin's Creed Modern Day Discussion at BAFTA 2024 Breakdown Analysis Share 5 Nov 2024 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database During a recent conference held at the BAFTA 2024 event in London reported by Gamesradar , VP executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté discussed recent controversies and the balance between Modern Day and Historical story with regards to #AssassinsCreedShadows . Here are the key points that were made. Image source: BAFTA Games "While both Naoe and Yasuke's stories are works of fiction, they will reflect (...) the complexity and interconnectedness of our shared history" "Our team's commitment to inclusivity is grounded in historical authenticity and respect for diverse perspectives, not driven by modern agendas" "The current climate is tough on our creative teams - They face lies, half-truths, and personal attacks online." "Legitimate criticism" remains valuable but must be distinguished from "attacks driven by intolerance." "The modern day storyline will explore deeper themes of memory, identity and autonomy, how the past shapes who we are, and how controlling this past can impact our future" These themes will allow to reflect on contemporary issues such as freedom versus control, the power of knowledge and the tension between individuality and conformity "Ending Desmond's arc was a difficult decision, and afterward, the modern storyline struggled to find its footing" Image source: Ubisoft "The continued focus on characters hunting for Isu artifacts made the narrative more predictable" Series is entering “third period” in which the team's goal is to “put history back at the center of the player's experience” Thus, "the modern day narrative will serve to enhance, rather than overshadow, the historical journey by drawing meaningful contrast between past and present." "The groundwork for this new direction will take shape with Assassin's Creed Shadows, which will lay the foundation for this narrative evolution that will grow in the years to come.” In Côté's conclusion, "the answer to hate is to continue creating experiences that celebrate the richness of our world and capture the magic of our collective imagination because in the end, creativity is stronger than fear.” It's great to hear that Ubisoft are acknowledging that Modern Day has been inferior since the death of Desmond Miles, with multiple games stripping it back and others replacing it with cutscenes. We can't wait to see what's next! Image source: Ubisoft comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

Assassin's Creed Shadows Wallpaper Collection Released by Frame Hold Photography Community Share 27 Jan 2025 Written By: Edited By: Frame Hold Photography Colum Blackett Back To Database The launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows is fast approaching and the recently released Story Trailer has only increased excitement for the game. Our very own Frame Hold Photography today released the Assassin's Creed Shadows wallpaper collection, compiled of edits and key moments from the trailer! Let us know your favourites in the comments down below and enjoy Assassins! Desktop Desktop (Textless) Mobile Did you just find your new wallpaper? Show us on social media! Links can be found below. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Frame Hold Photography is a passionate Virtual Photographer who joined our Video Content Creation Team in Summer 2022, as we began our efforts to break away from solely written content. During a period of uncertainty for TOWCB website, FHP stepped up and took on the role of Site Manager, overseeing our restoration efforts. Our website today now sits at the top of many Google searches📈 Outside of AC, she is also a full time editor and visual effects artist on TV commercials, and has been putting her skills to use in the community by creating epic Assassin's Creed tribute videos, miniature figure painting videos and editing episodes of our Rally the Creed podcast! Frame Hold Photography

Children of Danu: A History Breakdown Share 14 Apr 2021 Written By: Edited By: Lauren Harris Ashlea Buckley Back To Database We are moving ever closer to the release of Assassin Creed Valhalla’s first story expansion DLC, Wrath of the Druids, which is due to release on the 13th May. The new content will see Eivor travel to Ireland where she will forge alliances with Gaelic Kings and battle a druidic cult known as the Children of Danu. But who were the Children of Danu and how might they factor into this new piece of the Valhalla story? Wrath of the Druids is the first downloadable content expansion for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and is set to launch May 13th 2021. Danu is a goddess in Irish mythology – though she is a bit different to what we may assume when we think of mythological gods. Danu is a hypothetical god and functions as a mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, which translates roughly as “the people of the goddess Danu”. We can assume that the Tuatha Dé Danann are the cult Eivor will be fighting, or at the very least it will be worshippers of the Tuatha. Interestingly, there are no surviving myths or legends associated with Danu in the medieval Irish texts, though Danu is sometimes assumed to be an alternative name for Anu who is another Irish goddess. It is possible that Danu was inspired by Dôn from Welsh mythology, who was a mother goddess in the Mabinogion. It is also possible that Danu is actually Danand, daughter of Delbáeth and mother of Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba, though this is disputed. According to some interpretations of the myth, Danu had a relationship with a sacred oak tree which grew two giant acorns. The acorns fell to the ground and out came The Dagda and Brigid, who would later become important figures within the Tuatha Dé Danann. Another interpretation is that Danu is actually the Greek goddess of the sea, Eurynome. Eurynome was once known as Danae or Dana, which could suggest a connection between her and Danu. Eurynome is usually represented as a mermaid with bright red lips, piercing blue eyes, pale skin, and long blonde hair. It is also theorised that Danu may represent the Danube River, further connecting her to water. The Tuatha Dé Danann were a pantheon who have appeared throughout Celtic mythology in various forms. They were a supernatural race rather than a cult in Irish mythology, which could suggest that Eivor will meet human followers of the race rather than the race themselves due to Assassin’s Creed generally not including supernatural phenomena. According to legend, the Tuatha Dé Danann live in the realm of the deities known in Celtic mythology as the Otherworld. In other legends, it has been known as Annwn, Avalon, and Tír na nÓg. Despite living in the Otherworld, the Tuath Dé often visit the human world and interact with humans. Their rivals were the Fomorians, who the Tuath Dé defeated in the legendary Battle of Mag Tuired. Over the years, the legend surrounding the Tuath Dé has evolved and been altered by those who have interpreted it. The pantheon have been regarded as ancient kings and queens with supernatural abilities, as fallen angels, or even as gods themselves. Eventually, the Tuatha Dé Danann came to be known as the aes sídhe in Irish and Scottish mythology. The Tuath Dé are generally associated with nature and each member is connected to one aspect of life or nature. Some of the more well known members of the Tuatha Dé Danann pantheon include The Dagda, god of fertility, agriculture, strength, magic, Druidry and wisdom; The Morrigan, a crow who was associated with war, fa te, death and doom; Manannán, god of the sea; and Brigid, goddess of wisdom, healing, protection and animals. Concept art for Ireland coming from the Assassin's Creed Valhalla Season Pass Trailer. Legend tells that the Tuatha Dé Danann hailed from four cities in Ireland’s north: Falias, Gorias, Murias. and Finias. The Tuath Dé taught their skills in sciences, the arts, architecture, magic and necromancy to the humans in Ireland. According to Lebor Gabála Érenn, the Tuath Dé arrives in Ireland “in dark clouds” and “brought a darkness over the sun for three days and three nights” before burning the ships they sailed in on. According to the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, the Tuatha Dé Danann arrived in the country in 1897 BC. They almost immediately became caught up in a battle with the previous settlers, the Fir Bolg. The Tuath Dé overthrew the Fir Bolg but their king, Nuada, lost his arm in the battle and could not continue to rule. He was replaced by Bres who was a tyrant. Dian Cecht managed to replace Nuada’s arm with a prosthetic. Dian Cecht’s son Miach used a spell to force flesh to cover the prosthetic and essentially give Nuada his arm back, but Dian Cecht was furious at being upstaged and murdered his son. Nuada became king again, but this enraged Bres who ended up bring the Fomorians to battle the Tuath Dé. In the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh, Nuada was killed and Lugh took over as king. It is said that a third battle occurred, this time between the Tuath Dé and the Milesians. The Milesians met three Tuatha Dé Danann goddesses Ériu, Banba and Fodla, and their husbands Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine. The three husbands were kings at the time and called a truce between the two groups – however the Tuath Dé broke the peace by creating a magical storm. In the end, the Milesian Amergin was called on to split the land between the two peoples. He gave the land above ground to the Milesians and sent the Tuatha Dé Danann to live underground in the Sidhe mounds, thus ending their reign in Ireland. One of the most interesting pieces of the Tuatha Dé Danann legend is the Four Treasures. According to the myth, the Tuatha Dé Danann brought four magical treasures to Ireland, one from each of their home cities. These treasures were a cauldron, a spear, a stone, and a sword. Is it possible that we will see these treasures in Wrath of the Druids? After all, each treasure sounds like the perfect basis for a Piece of Eden. The treasure from the city of Falias was the Stone of Fal. The stone itself is real and still stands in Ireland today. It is now known as the Lia Fáil, meaning Stone of Destiny, or as the Speaking Stone. It can be found on the Hill of Tara in County Meath. The Lia Fáil was said to have supernatural powers. Legend states that the stone would “roar” when the rightful High King of Ireland put his feet on it. It was also said to have the power to rejuvenate the king and bless him with a long reign. According to Lebor Gabála Érenn, the stone can no longer do this due to being split by Cú Chulainn, the Irish demigod and Lugh’s son. The stone also provides the origin of the name Inis Fáil, an ancient name for Ireland. Journey to Ireland and unravel the mysteries of an ancient druidic cult. Fight your way through haunted forests and dazzling landscapes while gaining influence among Gaelic kings. The second treasure was the Spear of Lugh from the city of Gorias. The story of the spear has been told several ways, but generally it involves Lugh demanding the spear which belonged to the King of Persia. The spear was said to be impossible to overcome and would answer to spells. One of these spells was “Ibar” which caused the spear to always hit its mark, and another was “Athibar” which caused the spear to return to its owner. Some writers have also suggested that the spear was alive and thirsted for blood and only a pile of fresh poppy leaves could prevent it from killing everyone around. It also may have been able to shoot flames or even lightning. It is starting to sound like a Piece of Eden we have seen before. The treasure from Findias was the Sword of Light and it belonged to Nuada, the king. Much like the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend, the Sword of Light frequently appears as a quest object in Irish and Scottish mythology. It is thought that the Sword of Light and Cú Chulainn’s sword Cruaidín Catutchenn may be one and the same. The sword is also described as a “fiery and bright lightning weapon” which could emit sparks. The final treasure is the Cauldron of the Dagda which came from the city of Muirias. The Dagda could control life and death, the weather and crops, as well as time and the seasons. He was skilled in magic and Druidry which may explain his connection to the cauldron. The cauldron was known as the coire ansic and was said to be bottomless and left no man unsatisfied. It was also said to have a ladle so big that two people could fit in it. According to the Annals, at least ten members of the Tuatha Dé Danann were High Kings of Ireland at one point. These were Nuada, Bres, Lugh, Eochaid Ollathair, Delbáeth, Fiacha, Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine. However, as all of these kings reigned before the Common Era, it is unlikely we will see them in Wrath of the Druids. All that said, what can we expect to see in Wrath of the Druids? As many scholars of Irish mythology have pointed out, Danu is essentially a blank slate. With no concrete myth or legend surrounding her, any writer is free to do what they wish with the goddess. As such, the writers of the DLC really do have the freedom to interpret Danu and her influence on Ireland however they like. As for the cult itself, that is harder to anticipate. It is unlikely that the cult will be the Tuatha Dé Danann themselves. Instead, it will probably be a cult who either believe themselves to be the Tuath Dé or who worship them. What kind of fight will they put up? They are druids who follow a supernatural race, so it is likely they will be using potions and mysticism in their battles. What is perhaps most interesting is whether the Four Treasures will appear? Considering how important Pieces of Eden are to the Assassin’s Creed mythos, and how many fantastic weapons appeared in the main story of Valhalla, it would be very disappointing to not see at least some of the treasures in the DLC. Who wouldn’t love to fight using the Sword of Light or the Spear of Lugh? Or to visit the Stone of Destiny or drink from Dadga’s bottomless cauldron? In any case, focussing the DLC on the Children of Danu seems like the perfect move after a game full of cursed objects, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and potions which take you to Asgard. If you enjoyed the more mystical elements of Valhalla, it seems like Wrath of the Druids will be right up your street. Could the DLC introduce Pieces to Eden to Assassin's Creed Valhalla? comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Lauren is a online article writer who joined the program in 2019, which allowed for her work to be viewed by a larger audience. She is especially interested in Assassin's Creed lore, and wrote a number of thought provoking articles which you can find here in the Community HUB. Lauren left the program in 2021 shortly after the 'Assassin's Creed Infinity' announcement, which understandably left many fans feeling uneasy. We wish her the best of luck with her future projects. Lauren Harris

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag and Addiction: Remembering Dad In Memoriam Share 1 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Ashlea Blackett Back To Database It's 2013, you're 13 years old and waiting for what would become one of your favourite games. You've always loved pirates, spent your childhood watching the Pirates of the Caribbean films so obsessively you nearly know them word for word. You could tell people the difference between a schooner and a brigg, and have visited the last remaining sailing ship of the era docked in London. It's 2013, you're 13 years old and you learn you'll never see your dad again. He introduced you to Pirates of the Caribbean when you were probably too young. He'd bought history books for you, and had plastic sword fights throughout the house with you when you were younger. He's gone now, and you don't know why. 9 years have passed and you still think of that strange autumn, the wild month around your birthday which went from excitement to depression. You remember being too young to really understand what's going on, what account documents you're being told about and the will you've been left with. In all honesty you don't care, what does stuff matter now, just leave me to play my games. 9 years have passed and you still replay Black Flag, no game has ever come close to completely absorbing you since. You remember swimming between islands just to see if you can, and finding a glitch to keep your hood up (because honestly who wants it down). The story progresses, and you realise that it's got more to teach you than you thought. Suicide , you've heard the word before but never really understood it. It was mentioned in bible class when you were younger, but like everything it just washed over your head, a word without any real meaning. Alcoholic is said now and again, you get the concept but now why people end up like that. "Just stop drinking," you'd think, "it's not that hard." Edward Kenway hits rock bottom, he's pushed away all his friends, his families halfway across the planet, hope has disappeared. He tumbles through the memory corridor, an area that's become symbolic for beginning your journey, and the success of defeating another target. Now, it's nothing but the falling ground for a man with nothing but a bottle. It's strange how art can affect you, what it teaches you without you ever expecting. No one went in to Black Flag for an emotional revelation about what it feels like to be hopeless, to give up and turn to bad habits to survive. The fun swashbuckling adventure has slowly peeled away to reveal the sad truths of the heroes of children's books and films, the reality of feeling without a place in a growing world. I struggled to understand my dad, he was distant and strange, without any explanation. He lived in a village in the middle of nowhere, he was part of a church whose rules he didn't follow, and seemed rudderless in everything he did. It's hard to express what being a child and seeing that feels like, trying to comprehend emotions you're too young or naive to experience feels like. That confusion can become resentment, misplaced anger or endless sadness. It's easy to repeat the cycle, act out without reason and continue the self destruction. If it weren't for an odd little game about Pirates and hooded Assassins. This month marks the 9th anniversary of that tumultuous year, and a lot definitely happens in your teen years. You go through your own heartbreak, learn your own lessons, get to experience sot medium, Darby McDevitt, Matt Ryan, and all the other actors, writers and developers made something that can, at least for one gamer, be life changing. It's soppy and melodramatic sure, but these fun corny games can be so impactful. They can last for nearly a decade in the minds of players by trying something, by trying to make a statement or express an emotion. I don't want to interfere in the lives of developers, but there's something so personal to the narrative of Black Flag, a passion to its presentation and themes that shines through. If we don't discuss depression, addiction, greed and imperfections, we're doomed to leave people clueless. Entertainment and art can teach so much, and even without realising, can help improve our understanding of the human experience immeasurably. I love Assassin's Creed, I love it's gameplay, philosophy and history. I just hope to see more stories from more creative, that touch upon something with such raw truth as Black Flag did all those years ago. me of the emotions that once seemed so alien. The best part of growing up is being old enough to hear the full story, to learn details that were understandably kept secret. But that journey, surprisingly of all, started with Assassins Creed showing a real, human and flawed character. It's strange to look back, after games with demigods and narrative choices, to think about how personally impactful watching a pre-written story about a Welsh dude with a few too many guns was in comparison. I know that to many Assassins Creed is pulpy historical fun, like marvel with dysentery. But it can't be understated, especially now in the age of "content" and "games as a service", how important it can be to include these darker moments and themes in your games. Black Flag was undeniably a fun romp, and the team behind it were exceptionally successful in making a great sandbox that you can jump back into after a long d ay. If you are concerned that you or someone you care about has a problem, there are people you can talk to. You can find some useful phone numbers and links here for free and confidential advice. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Finn is a creative writer from Rotherham, UK who has previously supported TOWCB's Fundraising events, and raised awareness surrounding Men's Mental Health. Finn's writing covers a wide scope, with releases so far including reviews, interviews and stories. He is known in the AC Community for his 'Pitching an Assassin's Creed Game' series, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website! Finn Fletcher