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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. Previous Next Writer Michael Smith Previous Partner 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. Twitter | Timeline Work

Verrell is an experienced social media manager who joined the program in Summer 2021. By joining the program, he will have the chance to expand his reach within the community, and help TOWCB Team reboot the program with fresh ideas and projects. Keep an eye on TOWCB Instagram account throughout 2022 and beyond. Previous Next Social Media Muhamad Verrell Previous Partner Verrell is an experienced social media manager who joined the program in Summer 2021. By joining the program, he will have the chance to expand his reach within the community, and help TOWCB Team reboot the program with fresh ideas and projects. Keep an eye on TOWCB Instagram account throughout 2022 and beyond. Twitter | Instagram Work

Calvin is a video creator based in the UK who joined TOWCB's Video Content Creation Team in Autumn 2024. Known online for his short comedy videos (skits), Calvin was brought onboard to inject a degree of personality and humour into TOWCB's social media presence. He is a big fan of the Assassin's Creed series who will be helping TOWCB grow, with a particular focus on producing content for Tiktok, Youtube and Instagram. Previous Next Video Content Calvin Whiteway Calvin is a video creator based in the UK who joined TOWCB's Video Content Creation Team in Autumn 2024. Known online for his short comedy videos (skits), Calvin was brought onboard to inject a degree of personality and humour into TOWCB's social media presence. He is a big fan of the Assassin's Creed series who will be helping TOWCB grow, with a particular focus on producing content for Tiktok, Youtube and Instagram. Instagram │ TikTok | Professional Instagram Work

The Bleeding Effect Podcast is an Assassin's Creed lore series which examines key moments of the franchise and explores pivotal elements of the story, run by brother and sister duo Jarrett and Tiffany. The pair sadly left the program in Summer 2022 after a long hiatus to focus on other projects. We wish them luck with their future endeavours. Previous Next Video Content Jarrett and Tiffany Previous Partner The Bleeding Effect Podcast is an Assassin's Creed lore series which examines key moments of the franchise and explores pivotal elements of the story, run by brother and sister duo Jarrett and Tiffany. The pair sadly left the program in Summer 2022 after a long hiatus to focus on other projects. We wish them luck with their future endeavours. YouTube Playlist Work

Michael is a close personal friend of the admin team who has worked alongside TOWCB for many years, lending a hand behind the scenes who is best known for his time leading the Rally the Creed video-podcast. In 2022, Michael stepped out of the shadows and joined TOWCB's Writing Team, where he explored game journalism by expanding TOWCB database, filling it with guides, tips and tricks and more. After a series of article launches, he joined TOWCB's Core Team, where he now works as a Strategist, overseeing major campaigns, establishing internal systems and managing charity efforts for the group. Previous Next Writer Michael Doyle Previous Partner Michael is a close personal friend of the admin team who has worked alongside TOWCB for many years, lending a hand behind the scenes who is best known for his time leading the Rally the Creed video-podcast. In 2022, Michael stepped out of the shadows and joined TOWCB's Writing Team, where he explored game journalism by expanding TOWCB database, filling it with guides, tips and tricks and more. After a series of article launches, he joined TOWCB's Core Team, where he now works as a Strategist, overseeing major campaigns, establishing internal systems and managing charity efforts for the group. Twitter Work

William is a young writer and Assassin's Creed fan who joined TOWCB AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer. ​Throughout 2021, William and other writers joined the admin team in a collaborative effort to create an Assassin's Creed Guide Database, which you can find here. ​William left the program in June 2021 due to a change in personal circumstances, Previous Next Writer William Adler Previous Partner William is a young writer and Assassin's Creed fan who joined TOWCB AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer. Throughout 2021, William and other writers joined the admin team in a collaborative effort to create an Assassin's Creed Guide Database, which you can find here. William left the program in June 2021 due to a change in personal circumstances, --- Work

My name is Yazen, and I'm from Oman. I am very passionate about gaming. To me, interacting with other gamers with the same interests can be just as fun as playing the games; sharing theories and art can be so fulfilling. I am fluent in Arabic and English but can speak Japanese at intermediate level. I worked as a marketing intern for the leading telecommunication company in my country, where I learned to collaborate with colleagues from other departments. My Experience as a marketer allowed me to cultivate my skills in thinking creatively and picking things up quickly. In 2024, I joined The Ones Who Came Before as a Social Media Manager. Previous Next Social Media Team Yazen // MidnightMarauder Previous Partner My name is Yazen, and I'm from Oman. I am very passionate about gaming. To me, interacting with other gamers with the same interests can be just as fun as playing the games; sharing theories and art can be so fulfilling. I am fluent in Arabic and English but can speak Japanese at intermediate level. I worked as a marketing intern for the leading telecommunication company in my country, where I learned to collaborate with colleagues from other departments. My Experience as a marketer allowed me to cultivate my skills in thinking creatively and picking things up quickly. In 2024, I joined The Ones Who Came Before as a Social Media Manager. Twitter Work

Kat is an Assassin's Creed photographer and artist who runs an online shop. By using an Ezio Auditore figure by McFarlane Toys, Kat created iconic images which could be purchased as posters or postcards. In late 2020, Kat left the project due to personal reasons. We wish her luck with her future projects! Previous Next Artist Katrina Stark Previous Partner Kat is an Assassin's Creed photographer and artist who runs an online shop. By using an Ezio Auditore figure by McFarlane Toys, Kat created iconic images which could be purchased as posters or postcards. In late 2020, Kat left the project due to personal reasons. We wish her luck with her future projects! --- Work

Benoît Richer Interview: Assassin's Creed Valhalla Co-Dev Game Director Interview Share 14 Oct 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database We are proud to release the second interview in our new series dedicated to the development of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, featuring Co-Dev Game Director Benoît Richer from Ubisoft Montreal! Col: First of all, congratulations on the reveal of AC Valhalla, it looks absolutely phenomenal and we can't wait to learn more. Are you pleased with the response to the game so far? Benoît: Very much yes! All of our key new features along with some legacy ones that we want to bring back with a fresh new take really resonated well, people are excited about the game experience that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will offer! We were excited to be able to show an early look at the game right at announcement, even as we are working on it and the game is clearly not finished. People need to be aware that if we want to show them stuff early instead of holding back everything, there’s still going to be some issues that we know as game devs that we’ll have the time to fix. There’s still going to be people that judge the whole game harshly by seeing a bug & or a detail they didn’t like in a video, without playing. For me it’s like judging a wine by its color and not by tasting the full experience, how every element comes together. But honestly the vast majority that we see online are really hyped for the game and it’s awesome! It’s really motivating for everyone! Col: Have you seen any of the Valhalla fan content created so far, and is so, does anything special come to mind? Benoît: I’m actually following a lot what’s happening online with the fan & the community and I’m really impressed with everything I see (quality & quantity!), like beautiful fan art, amazing cosplays, gear crafting, Discord channels, the #ACSisterhood movement, YouTube videos, live Twitch sessions, historical research, etc.! All of those actually show a great passion for this game and it’s really exciting to be part of it! I try, as much as I can, to answer questions online (that I can answer obviously) and give my support! The AC community is really awesome! Col: How excited are the team to be working on such a unique project? Benoît: You have no idea how much the whole team (hundreds of people across the world) is very hyped and excited to work on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla! It’s quite a challenge to be working on an Assassin’s Creed title as it comes with a lot of expectations from the players, but if you look at the passion, dedication and expertise that this team has, everyone is confident in the unique experience that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will offer. What makes it unique in my opinion is how everything comes together in perfect harmony to create THE best Viking experience out there in an Assassin’s Creed world; like the theme, the historical pivotal story moment, the strong narrative moments, the lore, the new features and systems that makes you feel #LikeAViking , the music, the immersion of the world filled with activities that represent their culture, beliefs and way of life! Assassin's Creed Valhalla releases November 10th 2020 Col: How large can your settlement grow to, and how does Eivor deal with the problem of over population? Benoît: We’re about to reveal more about the settlement soon, but from what I could say right now, is that we’ve designed the settlement to be quite expandable and the more you level it up, the more there’s people that bring their story, contribution and opportunities for Eivor. Each new buildings has their purpose and some will even provide new abilities! Col: Can you choose the strategic positioning of your settlement? Benoît: No. When you arrive in England, there’s an area where you go to build your settlement but as for the why this place was chosen, I can’t say more not to spoil the story. Col: The UK is know for it's unpredictable weather. Do NPC's react to the weather accordingly? If so, can you give us a few examples of this mechanic? Benoît: Indeed this is an aspect that we wanted to make sure was represented and something that the player could use for their own advantage. For example, you can see a storm coming in the sky, or if there’s dense fog (especially in certain areas or time of day), players can take advantage of this as it’s going to impact enemy perception. Col: Do we hear accents in the game? Benoît: Yes of course. You can hear Norse, Welsh, Danish and Scot giving a true phonologic texture. Our Vikings are made up of Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish actors, so yes a lot of beautiful accents. When Eivor first arrives, Ravensthorpe is little more than a Saxon longhouse and a couple of tumbledown shacks. Col: What can you tell us about 'Puzzle Forest', and the mysteries that can be found in the world? Benoît: I’ll start by saying that we do have puzzle wood that you can explore and what you encounter there is really interesting. We do have quite a lot of various activities in the world that represent the Norse/Saxon culture, beliefs and the time period under 3 different categories; 1-Wealth, 2-Mysteries and 3-Secrets. For the Mysteries, among them there’s the offering altars where you can bring back specific offerings to receive blessings from the gods, Standing stones where you have visual anamorphism gameplay to find the hidden place of energy, the World events that are individual captivating story moments that tells more about who these people were and give different emotional tones to the experience, the Animus anomalies that are present day moments merged into the simulation where you need to complete very interesting puzzles in order to recover part of a hidden message that was left for Layla to find, various World boss encounters from legendary folklore beasts to very hardened characters that has deep and interesting stories, hidden underground Caverns concealing secrets, and some others that were exposed already such as Cairn stones landmarks, Flyting the famous rap battles, and more that we’ll let the player discover for themselves. As for the Secrets, among them there’s Roman artefacts that you could find old Roman vestige structures and bring back to a collector in your settlement, Curse symbols to find and destroy that are affecting you psychologically and even physically as the Norse were affected by those curses, Hallucination mushrooms you can consume in order to resolve 3 different types of imaginative puzzles, Flying papers which are a nice homage to Black flag as you can find customisation items, Manuscripts where you can find hidden treasures in the world and other secrets to discover. Col: Other than the Ringleader, what are some of the other new enemy types that feature in the game? Benoît: I’ve never worked on a game where there was such a wide and interesting variety of different enemy archetypes & bosses in a game! We have many different factions such as the Norse, Saxon, bandits, Celts, Picts and others and each of them has unique archetypes & unique abilities. Like a Norse Viking Rusher that rushes and jumps at you (or your raid crew) with dual wielding axes, a huge Saxon Housecarl that gives a lot of pressures constantly attacking with his flail, a Bandit Boar Master that use long fire torches to sends his boars at you and so many more that we’ll let the player discover! Also it’s worth mentioning that this time around, we have archetypes that work in synergy, like for example that Ring leader in the presence of archers could assemble them to call “volley shots”, a huge bandit Destroyer that could spill oil on your and the floor while a bandit Pyro set it on fire or the boar master with his long fire torch. All of those, along with player skills & abilities are going to ensure a very cool progression and variation through the course of the game and in various territories! Col: As the world is filled with meaningful content, what sort of collectibles will players be able to find in the world? Benoît: A lot of them has been covered in the Mysteries and Secrets questions, but there’s a lot more that the player will discover in the world helping his survival skills (as Norse were amazing survivalist and we wanted to cover this aspect in gameplay in a more significant way) such as healing Plants, various Mushrooms that has different effect such as adding adrenaline for players to unleash their abilities, healing, however some other are more dangerous so players will have to be careful and learn the distinction, Minerals to collect or hunting for Leather in order to upgrade your gear and also your carriable capacity of arrows and health rations, Notes & flavor items that are adding richness, depth and historical background to the world, Tattoos in flying papers and some more that we’ll let the player discover! We would like to thank Benoît for joining us for this interview, and to Gabe Graziani and the Ubisoft PR department for making it possible. 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)

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)

Opinion: AC Brotherhood didn't know what to do with Ezio Analysis Share 15 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: Finn Fletcher Colum Blackett Back To Database I recently visited Rome and so - as a nerd - replayed Assassin's Creed Brotherhood in preparation. It's the first time I've revisited the Ezio trilogy properly since 2017, when I marathoned the first five games before the release of Assassin's Creed Origins. I'm having a great time, the music swells a pure childish excitement in me, and Roger Craig Smith is amazing. Unfortunately, I've found the story this time through (my third or fourth playthrough now) quite lacklustre, especially the characterisation of Ezio. He's the charming Assassin hero we all remember, but has little extra depth. He's unstoppable, and since in this game he became the face of the franchise moving forward, feels more like a traditional gaming protagonist such as Master Chief or Doom Guy. Here, he's a white hood and hidden blades, who's smooth with the ladies and an effective killer. But a lot of the self-doubt and anger that plagued him in Two - and I think made him so interesting to begin with - has been stripped back for him to become the ideal Assassin Mentor. It's a shame really, especially considering the story the game sets up. The prologue of Brotherhood recaps Ezio facing the man ultimately responsible for his father's death, realising revenge isn't the answer, before learning that he's not even the main character of his own story. He starts the game finding out his actions don't matter, and that he's nothing more than a messenger or middle-man in a wider story. Following this he loses his home and uncle, a man who had previously given him purpose in the brotherhood. At this point, he'd logically be adrift, homeless, without a guiding figure and burdened with the knowledge that he's nothing more than a pawn in another's story. Mario, the only person who could probably reassure him at this moment and give him a new purpose, is gone, he's more alone than ever. That's a really interesting place for a narrative, and based on his behaviour in Two, would push him to seek revenge. Forgiveness didn't work is a conclusion that would be easy for him to reach after the Borgia’s invaded his home and Rodrigo chose to not repay Ezio’s kindness. Now it's time to take no prisoners. Brotherhood doesn't tell that story, Ezio barely mourns Mario's death or the loss of his home and quickly begins taking down Borgia strongholds across Rome. He's cool, calm and collected, and rarely if ever makes a mistake. The game tries to add intrigue by questioning Machiavelli’s loyalties, but Ezio stays neutral throughout that subplot before exposing the truth. This again could've been interesting, after Mario's death Ezio could become more paranoid, seeing enemies everywhere and calling for the death of Machiavelli before discovering the truth. He's a leader now, with a lot more responsibility, and his mistakes have larger consequences. It could be a moment of reflection pushing him to be better, but instead it's just another situation Ezio swiftly fixes. This is even reflected in his new robes, now pristine white and red, looking as if they were carved in marble. Ezio is statuesque, a perfect figure of Assassin morality and skill. They've lost the rugged swagger of Giovanni’s (far superior) robes, or the put together feel of Altair's armour, which show him putting his own stamp on the brotherhood's legacy. I don't HATE these robes by any means, and they've become the archetype for the series moving forward for good reason, but they're easily my least favourite of Ezio's selection (other than the armour of Brutus but I try and forget that exists). Brotherhood is still an excellent game, it holds up in many ways and as previously mentioned Roger Craig Smith's performance doesn't falter even if the script does. I just feel on reflection it tells a flat story, taking an interesting character and turning him bland. Ezio's other stories are far more interesting, questioning his reasoning and determination. I wish there was more about that here, a mid-life crisis for Ezio as he has to move from student to master and all responsibility rests on his shoulders. This is a time for him to make mistakes, before becoming the ideal mentor in Revelations, who then has to accept he's too old to carry on while reflecting on what made him choose this path to begin with. Instead it's an unquestioning tale of a flawless hero, who now drives tanks, flies bombers, and leads an army. What are your thoughts on Assassin's Creed Brotherhood? Were you happy with the evolution of Ezio? Let us know in the comments below! comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest nobodycares Jan 05, 2025 Great article, perfectly described my feelings after finishing the game for the first time. Like Reply 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 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! In February 2026, he left the team to focus on real-world opportunities as a journalist, writing for a newspaper! We're thrilled to see Finn using his skills to build a career! Finn Fletcher

Ask the VP Episode 15: Interview with TOWCB Virtual Photography Team Leader Aaron Young Interviews Share 5 Nov 2023 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database On the 4th November 2023, The PhotoMode invited our very own Aaron Young // FalconVP (Team Leader for TOWCB Virtual Photography Team) for an interview on Twitter Spaces, as part of the 'Ask the VP' series, covering hi s VP Style and process, being a part of The Ones Who Came Before // Isu_Network team, his love for Assassin's Creed and more! Check it out here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcFO6GfXl88 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

Partner Promotion: UbiCypher takes on the role of Isu_Network Lead Admin News Share 13 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database We are pleased to announce that UbiCypher (@ Kenway_Joe ) has achieved a promotion within the Isu_Network , taking on the role of lead admin! He has spent countless hours researching the series and real history, providing consistent social media content in the form of Assassin's Creed lore trivia, puzzles and news coverage. Under his guidance, the Isu_Network Twitter account has now surpassed 2500 followers, and we are incredibly proud of the content that has been released, some of which has gone on to act as a basis for articles on the website. The Isu_Network is becoming a recognisable pillar of the community, and in 2024 we are taking our content to the next level, by recruiting experienced social media manager Eric Allen to the team. With this promotion, and the experience TOWCB social media team gains from Eric's recruitment, we are now working to establish a clear identity for Isu_Network , and will continue to create consistent social media content that is both engaging and memorable. 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: 1K Celebration Community Share 18 Aug 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young TOWCB Team 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 Virtual Photography team. We wanted to celebrate reaching 1K members in our Twitter VP Community. This has been a joy to watch as we have grown over the years. Thanks to Ubisoft we were able to mark the occasion with a VP contest. We have been monitoring the hashtags and the community hub to see all your wonderful shots. This time we will be putting the spotlight on the winners and allowing them to tell us a bit about themselves and their wonderful captures. 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 VP Community Celebration 1st - Ship of the Desert Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ saskiaemmischVP I am Saskia, 28 years old, and I’ve been doing virtual photography as a hobby for about 2 years. I got into this pastime because I always loved the worlds and designs of video games and wanted to capture them. At some point I started posting my pictures, which is why social media and virtual photography also became a hobby. Since then, I’ve nurtured and cultivated my passion for it and put a lot of effort, work, and creativity into my VP. I came up with the picture itself because I love silhouettes. I happened to find this cave in Assassin’s Creed Origins and placed my camel in such a way. I then adjusted the photo mode settings so that this silhouette effect with the great colours was created. I thought the idea of a slight reflection in the water was very nice. My pictures are usually created spontaneously in the game, and that’s also the most fun. I hope that I can soon inspire this community with my VP from Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Aaron Saskia is a worthy winner of this competition with this beautiful shot from Assassin’s Creed Origins. I really love the minimalist approach with the reflection on the water. The blackout framing works perfectly and compliments the rich warm orange of the cave. This is an exceptional capture, and I can’t wait to see what Saskia can do in Mirage. 2nd - Longship Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ playpausephoto Imagine being a Viking far from land with nothing to see but the vast sea. All you hear are the crashing waves, the creaking sound of the oars and the wind tugging at the sails. The longship must feel so small, and the dark waters so endless. This is the feeling I tried to capture in this photo. I used a strong contrast between light and dark and a minimalistic composition to create a sense of isolation. I am truly honoured to be selected as one of the winners. It was my friends at TOWCB that introduced me to the games and the support from the AC community has been amazing from day one. Aaron A striking piece of virtual photography from Malin. I love the contrast and how it makes the wood on the ship pop. For me it is ingenious to split the shot down the middle of the longship, allowing us to only see half of the crew. There is a real isolating feel to this capture that fits with the narrative of long voyages to new lands. Assassin’s Creed often lends itself to minimal VP so I am very excited to see what Malin can capture in AC Mirage. 3rd - The Light Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ Yumejin Taking photos in video games has been an attraction to me since I was very young. The thought of seeing your favourite character in action and pausing the game just to enjoy the smallest details and immortalizing them all in a photo, seemed so appealing and interesting to me. Through time, as video games got more and more advanced, so did the technique of taking photos in them. The winning photo was taken by me just after I started going more in depth and taking virtual photography more seriously. Through learning different techniques of composition and how to take advantage of lighting and colours, I managed to capture a part of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey that is so visually pleasing and immediately sends you to Greece. Throughout my journey as a VP, I encountered so many talented people, and I also got so much encouragement, the AC community being one of the many cases in which everyone is very friendly and always supportive towards all the photos. I also see such a huge plethora of people who make amazing shots and play such different games, and it makes me realise that this whole VP community is great because it celebrates the universe of gaming and the beauty of exploring every frame to get the best photos. A worthy third place. Aaron What is so spectacular about this capture is the shadow work. I adore how the roof section is completely dark creating a frame around the photo. The pillars and meshing on the left really grab the attention as they leave varying shadows on the beautiful flooring. The shot really shows the wonders of Ubisoft’s attention to detail when creating these worlds. 4th – Setting of the Sun Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ astroghost001 I took this shot in Assassin’s Creed Origins by using a trainer to change the time of day, this allowed me to get the sun into an interesting position. I then used camera tools to get this extreme angle where it looks like the sun is rolling down the slope. I waited for Bayek to call Senu and that’s how I took the shot. In Lightroom I changed the colour from orange to purple just because I like exotic colours, and I already had a lot of sunset/amber shots. As a virtual photographer I like to try different styles and experiment a lot, every month I try to do a new style, also I love to work with colours to achieve a vibrant feel. Aaron What a breathtaking capture this is. The silhouette of Bayek with Senu on his arm is exceptional and the sunset mesmerising. I love how AstroGhost has experimented with the colours to produce something so unique and captivating. The line down the centre from the sand dunes really adds a new dimension parting the colours beautifully. 5th - Flowering Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ NovA1990 I hadn’t initially planned to capture this shot. I was photographing Kass, but I wasn’t satisfied with the results. So, I decided to take a break and explore the surroundings using the camera mode. That’s when I noticed the curve of the cherry tree branch, framing the birds flying by. After some careful adjustments, I managed to align the photo just right. I then did all the normal editing in Lightroom Classic and finished by adding blur to the birds. Aaron Sometimes amongst all the chaos you need a little serenity. Nova has definitely found that with this exquisite shot of a cherry tree. The vibrant colours of the petals have such a calming effect and the birds in the background are wonderfully placed. At first glance they almost look like petals blowing off the tree. This is a beautiful photograph, worthy of its place in this article. 6th – Shooting Star Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: Couch_Gamer2k23 To introduce myself I go by Couch_Gamer in the community, an avid lover of video games and someone who fell in love with virtual photography through the community. Until last year I had no idea what a photo mode was and as soon as I was introduced to it through the community, it made me realise you can appreciate a game more through it. About this shot, I was playing Mirage one night and I found out when you look at the sky during the night time you can see shooting stars and from my childhood, I heard stories from my grandparents that a shooting star when passing through, grants you a wish. So, I too decided to take a shot when the shooting star appeared on the screen. Took me a few tries but I was able to capture it. I admire the TOWCB community of Assassin’s Creed a lot for appreciating newcomers like me and giving a platform to showcase or participate in these types of events. They have been doing it for 10 years and I wish them all the best for next 10 years. Aaron This is such a tranquil shot that almost captures the essence of Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Basim's story. I love the black and white as it serves to promote the beauty of the starry night. Obviously, the shooting star is a fabulous addition, but so too is the composition with just enough white sand appearing at the bottom. I think having Basim stand with his back to us in white robes gazing into the night sky is a kind of insightful moment. 7th – Tomb Raider Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ BetweenDPixels Origins was my first Assassin’s Creed game, and Bayek is my favourite character from the games so far. Exploring these worlds is amazing and finding likeminded fans in the AC community has made it better. I can’t wait to keep exploring through my Assassin’s journey to see what other adventures and characters await. Not to mention the photo mode opportunities I already know to expect. Thank you for all the support. Aaron For me this is Assassin’s Creed Origins. There were so many promotional captures of Bayek walking with a torch in a tomb. The framing is excellent with the foundations of the pyramid surrounding Bayek. I really like how one lantern is aflame, and the other isn’t but compensated by the torch in his hand. The warm colours of the desert shine through with Bayek’s face covered in shadows but encompassed by the classic white hood. A contrast of a man who has gone through a crucible. 8th – Spiralling Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ BreizhThe “On the heights with eternal geometric shapes…. we perpetuate our credo from generation to generation” My name is TheBreizhGamer I have been passionate about virtual photography for around 10 years. I appreciate the world of Assassin’s Creed for all the historical settings that the saga takes us through. Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey, although criticised enough, are my favourite AC. I salute here all the talented artists who have been selected and it is an honour to be part of them. A big thank you to the entire TOWCB team. Aaron A feast for the eyes is what springs to mind when I think of this shot. The dazzling tiles of that incredible roof really capture the attention. I find myself almost mesmerised by them. I do like the little triangle at the top and the white point with Kassandra atop of it. These little details help take you away from the stunning backdrop. 9th – Warrior Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Tigas_VP Assassin’s Creed Origins marked my return to the saga, unfortunately I hadn’t played the series since Assassin’s Creed 2. I love the game and the fact that it takes place in Egypt, combining this with my passion for virtual photography was incredible. Aaron Tigas is one of my favourite Assassin’s Creed Origins photographers, this is mostly due to the cinematic effect of the shots. I adore how intense this capture is with Kensa staring us down from behind the shield. I do like the sparks and the mist just behind her as it adds to the atmosphere. She is a fierce gladiator, and I think Tigas portrays that with this shot. 10th – Field of Reeds Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ thefrostysm My name is Frosty, and I’ve been a part of the VP community for approximately 9 months now. One of my all-time favourite games series is Assassin’s Creed. I wasn’t old enough to play the first few games, so I started with Assassin’s Creed 3. That game was so impactful for me in so many ways that it has solidified itself as one of my favourite games of all time. I’ve played every AC since and don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Regarding my shot, this is from AC Valhalla and my focus was to show the peaceful, mindful side of Eivor. With so much rage, violence, and pressure as a new Viking King, I imagine what he would do to gather himself and his thoughts. A stroll through a seemingly endless field of roses seemed perfect to me. Thanks again for the selection, it really means a lot. Aaron Every time I see a shot like this I think of Gladiator, how could you not. Although not reeds this time, these awesome plants really make the capture with their red and white contrast. There is a huge element of reflection to this shot with Eivor walking away from the camera. I feel like it would fit as a scene following one of the tragic moments of the game. Having black and white with a colour splash really heightens a piece of VP and that is evident here. 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 Codename Hexe Theories Theory Share 27 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: ActualSpider-Man Colum Blackett Back To Database Let’s Revisit & Reanalyze What We Know on Codename Hexe Some of you may remember u/bool0011’s original Reddit post about some of this a few months ago, but if not, I wanna get deep into the weeds of what Access The Animus assumed early on, and what else has come to light. Things we the always questioning should take into account when looking at the decoding of the Official Logo, and what it might mean for the game on the way, albeit far from now! AtA did somewhat reveal most of the secrets hidden within, with their early access to the trailer allowing them to get out in front of the pack the day of the Ubisoft Forward. While they were correct in much of their findings, we can thank @ AC_Mac for their infographic translation and u/bool0011 for their more astute directions towards where and when we might be visiting in game, along with a commenter on their video sharing some interesting inputs regarding German history! As you might know, the AC Hexe logo contained several secret messages hidden around what’s called a Pentacle. The star inside that circle in the Hexe logo is the *Seventh Pentacle of Mars* from the book called The Key of Solomon, or Clavicus Salomonis in Latin. The symbols chalked inside each leaf of the pentacle and around the outside used a form of The Alphabet of the Magi, and we really should look into the front page for said alphabet on Wikipedia: “The Alphabet of the Magi is the modern name of a variant of the Hebrew alphabet used for inscriptions in talismans in 17th-century occultism. ... It is based on a variant of the Semitic alphabet given by Theseus Ambrosius (1469–1540) in his introduction in chaldaicam linguam (1539, pp. 202f.) ...Ambrosius here simply gives variant glyphs of the Hebrew alphabet, labelled Aleph, Beth, Gimel, Daleth, He, Vau, Zain, Hhet, Teth, Iod, Caph, Lamed, Mem, Nun, Samech, Ain, Phe, Zadai, Coph, Res, Sin, Thau. The alphabet is different from the other variants of the Semitic abjad given by Ambrosius in that he mentions that these letters are said to have been invented by Gamaliel and transmitted in the a book called Liber ignis associated with the angel Raphiel. Claude Duret (1570?–1611) included it in his Thresor (1613, p. 117) under the name "the characters of the angel Raphael", citing Ambrosius.” “Edmund Fry included it in his Pantographia (pp. 28–29), stating: "Theseus Ambrosius asserts that this character was brought from Heaven by the Angel Raphael by who it was communicated to Adam who used it in composing Psalms after his expulsion from the terrestrial paradise. Some authors pretend that Moses and the prophets used this letter and that they were forbidden to divulge it to mortal man." ... That alphabet is described in the pseudo-Paracelsian Archidoxis magica, translated into English by R. Turner (1656). S.L. MacGregor Mathers included it in his 1888 edition of the Key of Solomon (plate XV) under the name "Alphabet of the Magi."” ‘Hexe’ itself was also a clue, as its origins come from Old Germanic and means “Witch”, so if the Blair Witch sticks and occult spiral of symbols wasn’t enough, there’s easy confirmation for witchy rituals happening. Now back to AtA’s findings. We now know the message around the outside of the circle to read: WIR ARBAITEN IM DEM TUNKEL UM DEM LICHT ZUDIENEN. “We work in the dark to serve the light.” An easy pull given the context of an AC game, despite “Tunkel” being an even older form of German for ‘dark’, as one commenter on their post has since said: “Love the analysis, some additions from a German native speaker: "Arbaiten" and "Tunckel" both are words written in "altdeutsch" (old german) used in the 15th to 16th century germany. U V W are the same letter because Latin only had the U. V and W evolved in the Romance languages as did J. So V and W are categorized with U and J with I and Y.” The words spirally etched into the pentacle itself read: MEPHISTO / RACHE / HAUS, and the native speaker in the comments shared more insights: “"Rache" is a noun translating to "revenge", singular imperativ would be "räche" In Goethes "Faust I." Faust uses the pentagram to keep MEPHISTO trapped in his home (HAUS), some would say to get the opportunity for revenge (RACHE). Act I. Study, line 1393 and on if you want to look it up. It could be an analogy to Faust I. but pentagrams were often used as a sign to protect your house from all Evil including the Devil (=Mephisto). Historic evidences of the Pentagram, e.g. the "Drudenfuß" found at a gate in "Ahrweiler", correlate to the era of witchhunts in Germany (16th century).” [Top right of the image, source: https://www.sacred-texts.com/ grim/kos/kos30.htm ] But first, about the Key of Solomon book (full book here). “The Key of Solomon (Latin: Clavicula Salomonis; Hebrew: שלמה מפתח]\ Mafteah Shelomoh\]) is a pseudepigraphical grimoire (also known as a book of spells) attributed to King Solomon. It probably dates back to the 14th or 15th century Italian Renaissance. It presents a typical example of Renaissance magic.” “The Key of Solomon is divided into two books. It describes the necessary drawings to prepare each "experiment" or, in more modern language, magical operations.” “Unlike later grimoires such as the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (16th century) or the Lemegeton (17th century), the Key of Solomon does not mention the signature of the 72 spirits constrained by King Solomon in a bronze vessel. As in most medieval grimoires, all magical operations are ostensibly performed through the power of God, to whom all the invocations are addressed. Before any of these operations (termed "experiments") are performed, the operator must confess his sins and purge himself of evil, invoking the protection of God.” “Elaborate preparations are necessary, and each of the numerous items used in the operator's "experiments" must be constructed of the appropriate materials obtained in the prescribed manner, at the appropriate astrological time, marked with a specific set of magical symbols, and blessed with its own specific words. All substances needed for the magic drawings and amulets are detailed, as well as the means to purify and prepare them. Many of the symbols incorporate the Transitus Fluvii occult alphabet.” Interestingly enough, Key of Solomon was referenced in Goethe's Faust, and where? With Mephistopholes! “For such as your half-hellish crew – The Key of Solomon will do.” Now getting back to our Seventh Pentacle of Mars. “Write thou this upon virgin parchment or paper with the blood of a bat, in the day and hour of Mars; and uncover it within the Circle, invoking the Demons whose Names are therein written; and thou shalt immediately see hail and tempest. “ Editor's Note.--In the centre of the Pentacle are the Divine Names, El and Yiai, which have the same numerical value when written in Hebrew. The Letters in Hebrew, and in the Secret Alphabet called the Celestial, compose the Names of Spirits. Round the Pentacle is: --'He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land. He smote their vines also, and their fig-trees.'--Psalm cv. 32, 33. What about other pentacles? The First Pentacle of Mars, Figure 25. --It is proper for invoking Spirits of the Nature of Mars, especially those which are written in the Pentacle. Editor's Note.--Mystical Characters of Mars, and the Names of the four Angels:--Madimiel, Bartzachiah, Eschiel, and Ithuriel written in Hebrew around the Pentacle. The Second Pentacle of Mars, Figure 26. --This Pentacle serveth with great success against all kinds of diseases, if it be applied unto the afflicted part. Editor's Note.--The letter Hé, in the angles of the Hexagram. Within the same the Names IHVH, IHSHVH Yeheshuah (the mystic Hebrew Name for Joshua or Jesus, formed of the ordinary IHVH with the letter SH placed therein as emblematical of the Spirit), and Elohim. Around it is the sentence, John i. 4:--'In Him was life, and the life was the light of man.' This may be adduced as an argument of the greater antiquity of the first few mystical verses of the Gospel of St. John. The Third Pentacle of Mars, Figure 27. -It is of great value for exciting war, wrath, discord, and hostility; also for resisting enemies, and striking terror into rebellious Spirits; the Names of God the All Powerful are therein expressly marked.Editor's Note.--The Letters of the Names Eloah and Shaddai. In the Centre is the great letter Vau, the signature of the Qabalistic Microprosopus. Around is the versicle from Psalm lxxvii. 13:--'Who is so great a God as our Elohim?'* The Fourth Pentacle of Mars, Figure 28. --It is of great virtue and power in war, wherefore without doubt it will give thee victory. Editor's Note.--In the Centre is the great Name Agla; right and left, the letters of the Name IHVH; above and below, El. Round it is the versicle from Psalm cx. 5:--'The Lord at thy right hand shall wound even Kings in the day of His Wrath.'* The Fifth Pentacle of Mars, Figure 29. --Write thou this Pentacle upon virgin parchment or paper, because it is terrible unto the Demons, and at its sight and aspect they will obey thee, for they cannot resist its presence. Editor's Note.--Around the figure of the Scorpion is the word HVL. The versicle is from Psalm xci. 13:--'Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder, the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.' The Sixth Pentacle of Mars, Figure 30. --It hath so great virtue that being armed therewith, if thou art attacked by any one, thou shalt neither be injured nor wounded when thou fightest with him, and his own weapons shall turn against him. Editor's Note.--Around the eight points of the radii of the Pentacle are the words 'Elohim qeber, Elohim hath covered (or protected),' written in the Secret Alphabet of Malachim, or the writing of the Angels. The versicle is from Psalm xxxvii. 15:--'Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bow shall be broken.' Also, we should collect as much info as possible from the book itself, not just pictures. THE ORDER OF THE PENTACLES: Seven Pentacles consecrated to Saturn = Black Seven Pentacles consecrated to Jupiter = Blue Seven Pentacles consecrated to Mars = Red Seven Pentacles consecrated to the Sun = Yellow Six Pentacles consecrated to the Moon = Silver Five Pentacles consecrated to Venus = Green Five Pentacles consecrated to Mercury = Mixed CHAPTER XVIII CONCERNING THE HOLY PENTACLES OR METALS These Pentacles are usually made of the metal the most suitable to the nature of the Planet; and then there is no occasion to observe the rule of particular colours. They should be engraved with the instrument of Art in the days and hours proper to the Planet. Saturn ruleth over Lead; Jupiter over Tin; Mars over Iron; the Sun over Gold; Venus over Copper; Mercury over the mixture of Metals; and the Moon over Silver. They may also be made with exorcised virgin paper, writing thereon with the colours adopted for each Planet, referring to the rules already laid down in the proper Chapters, and according to the Planet with which the Pentacle is in sympathy. Wherefore unto Saturn the colour of Black is appropriated; Jupiter ruleth over Celestial Blue; Mars over Red; the Sun over Gold, or the colour of Yellow or Citron; Venus over Green; Mercury over Mixed Colours; the Moon over Silver, or the colour of Argentine Earth. CHAPTER II OF THE DAYS, AND HOURS, AND OF THE VIRTUES OF THE PLANETS It must, therefore, be understood that the Planets have their dominion over the day which approacheth nearest unto the name which is given and attributed unto them-viz., over Saturday, Saturn; Thursday, Jupiter; Tuesday, Mars; Sunday, the Sun; Friday, Venus; Wednesday, Mercury; and Monday, the Moon. The rule of the Planets over each hour begins from the dawn at the rising of the Sun on the day which takes its name from such Planet, and the Planet which follows it in order, succeeds to the rule over the next hour. Thus (on Saturday) Saturn rules the first hour, Jupiter the second, Mars the third, the Sun the fourth, Venus the fifth, Mercury the sixth, the Moon the seventh, and Saturn returns in the rule over the eighth, and the others in their turn, the Planets always keeping the same relative order. Note that each experiment or magical operation should be performed under the Planet, and usually in the hour, which refers to the same. For example:-- In the Days and Hours of Saturn thou canst perform experiments to summon the Souls from Hades, but only of those who have died a natural death. Similarly on these days and hours thou canst operate to bring either good or bad fortune to buildings; to have familiar Spirits attend thee in sleep; to cause good or ill success to business, possessions, goods, seeds, fruits, and similar things, in order to acquire learning; to bring destruction and to give death, and to sow hatred and discord. The Days and Hours of Jupiter are proper for obtaining honours, acquiring riches; contracting friendships, preserving health; and arriving at all that thou canst desire. In the Days and Hours of Mars thou canst make experiments regarding War; to arrive at military honour; to acquire courage; to overthrow enemies; and further to cause ruin, slaughter, cruelty, discord; to wound and to give death. The Days and Hours of the Sun are very good for perfecting experiments regarding temporal wealth, hope, gain, fortune, divination, the favour of princes, to dissolve hostile feeling, and to make friends. The Days and Hours of Venus are good for forming friendships; for kindness and love; for joyous and pleasant undertakings, and for travelling. The Days and Hours of Mercury are good to operate for eloquence and intelligence; promptitude in business; science and divination; wonders; apparitions; and answers regarding the future. Thou canst also operate under this Planet for thefts; writings; deceit; and merchandise. The Days and Hours of the Moon are good for embassies; voyages envoys; messages; navigation; reconciliation; love; and the acquisition of merchandise by water. Thou shouldest take care punctually to observe all the instructions contained in this chapter, if thou desirest to succeed, seeing that the truth of Magical Science dependeth thereon. The Hours of Saturn, of Mars, and of the Moon are alike good for communicating and speaking with Spirits; as those of Mercury are for recovering thefts by the means of Spirits. The Hours of Mars serve for summoning Souls from Hades, especially of those slain in battle. The Hours of the Sun, of Jupiter, and of Venus, are adapted for preparing any operations whatsoever of love, of kindness, and of invisibility, as is hereafter more fully shown, to which must be added other things of a similar nature which are contained in our work. The Hours of Saturn and Mars and also the days on which the Moon is conjunct with them, or when she receives their opposition or quartile aspect, are excellent for making experiments of hatred, enmity, quarrel, and discord; and other operations of the same kind which are given later on in this work. The Hours of Mercury are good for undertaking experiments relating to games, raillery, jests, sports, and the like. The Hours of the Sun, of Jupiter, and of Venus, particularly on the days which they rule, are good for all extraordinary, uncommon, and unknown operations. The Hours of the Moon are proper for making trial of experiments relating to recovery of stolen property, for obtaining nocturnal visions, for summoning Spirits in sleep, and for preparing anything relating to Water. The Hours of Venus are furthermore useful for lots, poisons, all things of the nature of Venus, for preparing powders provocative of madness and the like things. But in order to thoroughly effect the operations of this Art, thou shouldest perform them not only on the Hours but on the Days of the Planets as well, because then the experiment will always succeed better, provided thou observest the rules laid down later on, for if thou omittest one single condition thou wilt never arrive at the accomplishment of the Art. For those matters then which appertain unto the Moon, such as the Invocation of Spirits, the Works of Necromancy, and the recovery of stolen property, it is necessary that the Moon should be in a Terrestrial Sign, viz.:--Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn. For love, grace, and invisibility, the Moon should be in a Fiery Sign, viz.:--Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. For hatred, discord, and destruction, the Moon should be in a Watery Sign, viz.:--Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces. For experiments of a peculiar nature, which cannot be classed under any certain head, the Moon should be in an Airy Sign, viz.:--Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius. So here are the associations regarding Mars pentacles: • Its pentacle is made over Iron metal • Its adopted color is Red • Its dominion is on Tuesday • Mars comes third in the planet rule from the dawn; • Experiments under Days and Hours of Mars are cast for war, courage, giving death, military honour • Mars is also used in its hours to summon the souls from Hades, specifically if killed in battles, and to speak with the spirits But how does all this tie back into what we’ve already been told in Assassin’s Creed history? Where else have we heard of such True Magic and Divine Science before? It’s time we got deeper in the weeds on Project Legacy’s potential connections, beginning with the other alchemists we’ve met that had handled a very similar tome - or tomes - as the one we’ve been exploring, and may yet help us in theorizing when, who, and what we’ll be looking forward to in Hexe! Nicholas Flamel, Edward Kelley, John Dee, Paracelsus Bombastus, Giovanni Borgia, William Robert Woodman, Mina Bergson/Moina Mathers, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, William Wynn Westcott, Aleister Crowley. All these names either handled, experimented with, or otherwise knew of the secrets contained within a sacred alchemical text that had been split in two, in the hopes that its secrets would remain lost to whomever held only one or the other, though as it turned out, plenty of miracles and magick could be performed if the right reader researched its indecipherable pages. Heavily connected - though not explicitly confirmed - to the Voynich Manuscript we’ve seen pop up several times in various sources, Divine Science and True Magic have only been known to be combined in one man’s hands: Abraham of Würzburg. His name is mentioned by a lot of the above alchemists, and for good reason - they all attribute their findings to this man’s work before them, written and published into a grimoire titled The Book of Abramelin, or alternatively, The Book of Abraham. However, this book is somewhat confusing, as is the man it’s about, but we can diffuse as much confusion as possible by looking into things further. One such “Book of Abraham” was a collection of scrolls discovered in an early 19th century archeological expedition to Egypt by a man named Antonio Lebolo, which were then sold on July 3rd, 1835 to none other than Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism - and known Templar in AC - who then went on to translate and claim it to be the story of Abraham from the Bible, his early life in Canaan and Egypt, and his vision of the cosmos and creation. Smith then published this translated Book of Abraham into part of The Pearl of Great Price in the Book of Mormon. I can’t say definitively that Assassin’s Creed lore conflates this story with what I’m about to explain, but I think it holds much significance with the arguably more important Abraham at play in the lore. There’s another book that has manuscripts dating back to 1608, attributed to a man named Abraham von Worms, about a different Egyptian mage named Abraham from the 14th century (henceforth referred to as Abra-Melin). Abra-Melin made a grimoire that he then taught to another German man from the 14th century named Abraham of Würzburg, and this German Abraham’s journals of his trip to Egypt and his studies under Abra-Melin were catalogued into 4 major parts - “an autobiographical account of the travels of Abraham of Worms to Egypt, a book of assorted materials from the corpus of the practical Kabbalah (including some which is duplicated in the German-Jewish grimoire called "The Sixth and 7th Books of Moses") and the two books of magic given by Abramelin to Abraham.” Two books of magic, they said? Interesting... Now, the pages of this grimoire that Abra-Melin gave to Abraham of Würzburg are never claimed in our history to relate to the later-discovered Book of Abraham that would wind up in the Book of Mormon, but I think the culturally congruent Egyptian Abrahams both having books of particular importance revolving around nature and how things came to be, should put both of these stories in the same vein when talking about how this could be and has been used in AC. For an irrefutable example, we can look to the most famous grimoire to spawn from Samuel Mathers’ macabre magicks in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, whom took the writings of this supposed Abra-Melin as possibly more fervent gospel than Smith took his scrolls! Mathers would go on to publish his studies and findings into his own translated grimoire, titled The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, in 1897, sparking new interest in the occult in the early 20th century. But where does all this bring us in answers about Hexe? To sum up my theory on the story, it’s been posited for a while that we’ll be seeing 17th century German witch trials, but what I think is that we’ll be witnessing the fallout of whoever found these 1608 manuscripts regarding Abra-Melin, perhaps practicing what it contained, communing with “spirits of Hades”, and eventually being outed or going into hiding during the 1625-1631 Würzburg Witch Trials, a harrowing time in 17th century Germany for anyone showing any occult interests, and a hotbed for hidden Assassin and Templar - and Hermetic Order - secrets to discover! What did they know of Isu writings? Could the language connect to the ritualistic Hebrew and Alphabet of the Magi we see in the pentacles? I could add that Abramelin Oil is used in consecration rituals, but that’s a whole other rabbit hole of possible connections I’ll leave for you to explore further if you wish! But what are your thoughts? Am I stretching too many threads to make sense of what little we’ve been given so far? Or do you think my Spidey-senses are spot-on? What are you most excited for that might be coming in Codename Hexe? Let’s discuss! • Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor ṇoænos wahæáid oænosr zàrhṇdichṛ comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest May 01, 2023 Wow, that sounds extremely convincing Like Reply 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

2024 The Ones Who Came Before Logo Designs Revealed News Share 20 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: Thea (Moonchildgecko) Colum Blackett Back To Database We are excited to reveal a new logo design for The Ones Who Came Before, created by Thea Marie Rivedal (@ MoonChildGecko) from @ Isu_Network , and is based on the winning logo design chosen by our community! A new look for a new era. Inspired by the Assassin's Creed Red reveal trailer, the new design prepare our audience for the future of the franchise, transporting players to Japan. We couldn't pick a favourite, so we let our Twitter community decide! Design 4 won and acts as inspiration for the more refined design. Look out for our interview with Thea Marie Rivedal (@ MoonChildGecko) over the coming weeks as we dive into the design process, and examine the inspirations behind the designs! Stay tuned here at The Ones Who Came Before for all things Assassin's Creed Red. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Thea is a full time student studying archaeology at the University of Bergen in Norway. She is a huge fan of the franchise and enjoys writing both fictional and academic texts. In her spare time, Thea is a passionate artist, creating detailed pencil sketches and watercolour/acrylic paintings. She has even created tattoos and replica historical props/ clothing before! In Summer 2022, Thea joined TOWCB's art team, where she will have the chance to work on a variety of projects and expand her art portfolio. Thea (Moonchildgecko)

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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LLB-WNvQEQ 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 Valhalla: Cinematic World Premiere Trailer Released News Share 30 Apr 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft have just released the Cinematic World Premiere trailer for Assassin's Creed marking the dawn of a new era of the series. The next chapter set during the Viking age will take players on the adventure of a lifetime, travelling from Scandinavia to distant lands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0Fr3cS3MtY Download now in HD What did you think of the trailer? Are you excited for the game? 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)

Product Reveal: Assassin's Creed Through The Ages Tankard by Nemesis Now Merchandise Share 12 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database We are pleased to reveal the 'Through the Ages' Assassin's Creed Legacy Tankard by N e mesis Now! Releasing Summer 2024, this masterfully crafted collector's item pays tribute to the series and the multiple developments made over time to the hidden blade, the Assassins weapon of choice. Step into the shadows of history with this Officially Licensed Assassin's Creed Through The Ages Tankard . A masterfully crafted vessel that pays homage to the legendary assassins who have left their mark across centuries. Adorned with intricate gold details that capture the essence of the Assassin's Creed legacy. This Tankard is cast in the finest resin before being hand-painted, and will let you relive the adventures of assassins past at every glance. We can't wait to see this product in person when it releases in a couple of months, and can only imagine the sheer joy fans will feel when they receive their own. Assassin's Creed Syndicate Cosplayers in particular are in for a treat, as the style takes a stab at recreating a historical drinking vessel. Look out for it in stores June 2024, or pre-order now from the following retailers. PlanetMerch ComicWarehouse 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 Shadows Claws of Awaji Wallpaper Collection Community Share 30 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Frame Hold Photography TOWCB Team Back To Database We're pleased to reveal the Assassin's Creed Shadows Claws of Awaji wallpaper collection by Frame Hold Photography from TOWCB Core Team! Each wallpaper has two versions, clean or text, which can be downloaded and used as a phone wallpaper. Let us know in the comments which one is your new phone wallpaper! 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