Apple of Eden 6

"This... piece of silver cast out Adam and Eve. It turned staves into snakes. Parted and closed the Red Sea. Eris used it to start the Trojan War; and with it, a poor carpenter turned water into wine."

- Al Mualim about the Apple.

The presumed Sixth Apple was the focal Piece of Eden encountered by members of the bloodline of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, and was a piece of ancient but technologically advanced equipment created by Those Who Came Before. Unlike the other five Apples described in Subject 16's Glyph puzzles, it was never issued a number.

Use: Designed to create illusions and to control human minds, and can be used in conjunction with the Staff (presumably as can other Apples). Also contained knowledge of many technologies used by Those Who Came Before.

Status: Hidden by Ezio Auditore da Firenze in a First Civilization Vault beneath the Santa Maria Aracoeli in Rome between 1503 and 1507. Uncovered by Desmond Miles on October 10th, 2012.

Known owners

 * Those Who Came Before (? - ?)
 * Malik Al-Sayf (1191 (temporary ownership))
 * Al Mualim (1191)
 * Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (September 1191 - ?)
 * Ezio Auditore da Firenze (1488)
 * Checco Orsi (June/July 1488)
 * Girolamo Savonarola (June/July 1488 - 23 May 1498)
 * Ezio Auditore da Firenze (23 May 1498 - 31 December 1499)
 * Rodrigo Borgia (31 December 1499 (temporary ownership))
 * Ezio Auditore da Firenze (31 December 1499)
 * Mario Auditore (31 December 1499 - 2 January 1500)
 * Cesare Borgia (2 January 1500 - 1501)
 * Leonardo da Vinci (1501 - 1502)
 * Rodrigo Borgia (1502 - 31 August 1503)
 * Ezio Auditore da Firenze (31 August 1503 - 1506)
 * Desmond Miles (2012)

History
By the Third Crusade, Templar Robert de Sable sought to obtain the Apple from the catacombs of Solomon's Temple. However, Al Mualim send several of his Assassins to retrieve it. Malik was able to retrieve the Apple and bring it to Al Mualim. Al Mualim kept the Apple with himself at all time, until he sent Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad to kill Robert. During Altaïr's absence, Al Mualim brainwashed the Assassins and villagers of Masyaf. When Al Mualim was confronted with Altaïr after his return, Al Mualim utilized several of the Apple abilities.

However, Altaïr was able to kill Al Mualim and take the Apple. Altaïr studied the Apple throughout most of his life, advancing the Assassin Order and creating new weapons hundred years ahead of his time. Altaïr later sealed the Apple away in Cyprus by his later years. By the later 15th century, the Apple was secured by Templar Rodrigo Borgia. However, Ezio Auditore was later Apple to take the Apple for the Assassins. The Apple remained in his possession until Checco Orsi took it during the Battle of Forlì. However, Ezio shortly retook the Apple and killed Checco. However, he was stabbed by a dying Checco. Losing consciousness, the Apple was taken by Girolamo Savonarola.

Savonarola used the Apple to take over all of Florence and start the Bonfire of the Vanities. This lasted until 1499 when Ezio assassinated Savonarola and taken the Apple once more for the Assassins. After uniting all of Altaïr's Codex and using the Apple, the Assassins discovered the fabled "Vault" lied beneath the Vatican. Ezio was later able to infiltrate the Vatican and combine the Apple and the The Staff together and open the Vault.

After escaping the Vatican, Ezio and Mario took to the rooftops and made their way to a high tower overlooking the Tiber River. Once there, Ezio withdrew the Apple of Eden from his cloak and prepared to drop it into the river, however, he hesitated.

Acknowledging that destroying such a powerful artifact was not a decision to be taken lightly, Mario offered to keep the Apple safe until Ezio had made up his mind, and the two rode back to their base of operations in the fortress town of Monteriggioni.

During the Siege of Monteriggioni, Mario was killed by Cesare Borgia, who took the Apple for himself. Four years later, Ezio managed to retrieve the Apple from where it had been hidden by Rodrigo Borgia, in the Basilica di San Pietro. He used it to demilitarize Cesare's army, and look into the future to locate Cesare in Viana in 1507. Realizing the power of the Apple, Ezio hid it in a Vault beneath the Santa Maria Aracoeli.

There, it was uncovered in 2012 by Desmond Miles, who made use of the bleeding effect to retrieve it.

Abilities
"I have found that in small doses, and with a focused mind, the Apple can be used without ill effect. Or so I hope."

- Altaïr's Codex, page 28.

In 1191, the Apple was used by Al Mualim to coerce the members of the Assassin Order into obeying his will, namely, killing Altaïr. The Apple was also shown to be capable of neural paralysis, the creation of up to nine hologram doubles, and the partial blindness of any target. Additionally, it revealed a map of the world indicating the locations of various Pieces of Eden.

In 1499, Ezio used the Apple in Rome to dispel the effects of the Staff of Eden, as well as to create four hologram doubles. While these doubles could not deal damage, they were able to distract Rodrigo during their battle. After Rodrigo stole the Apple, he combined it with the Staff to paralyze Ezio, then to create the key to the Vault, which he claimed held a "god-felling weapon." In the Vault, Minerva upgraded the Apple.

In 1503, Ezio was briefly able to use the Apple as a weapon. By charging it, a golden perimeter spread around him, followed by a smaller, white perimeter (though these circles decreased slightly upon release). Enemies within the golden circle of effect would proceed to fight each other, while enemies in the white circle would fall to the ground in agony, which was depicted as a kill-by-insanity.

If the golden perimeter affected an enemy with no other enemies around to attack (or if all other enemies had already been killed) the affected enemy would just fall to his knees and beg for mercy. The Apple could also be used in a counter-attack, where briefly activating its effects just as an enemy attacked resulted in an instant kill.

Using the Apple appeared to weaken its user; though it is unknown whether this was due to overuse of its powers, or of a desynchronization between Desmond's and Ezio's memories.

Trivia

 * The Apple is mentioned as an important icon in many religious writings; most notably as the "fruit of knowledge" in the Garden of Eden.
 * The Apple affects and can potentially kill almost anyone, including allies (such as mercenaries and Assassin recruits) and civilians.
 * Using the Apple will drain the player's health, with a greater area of effect draining a greater amount of health; though health will recover faster over time.
 * In Assassin's Creed, Lucy categorically states that the Apple destroyed in the DIA satellite accident (labeled "no. 2" in the conference room e-mail) was the same one possessed by Altaïr; however, in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, it is revealed that this same Apple still exists, and was stored in the Colosseum Vault between 1506 and 2012.