Forging History

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Forging History
Attribution information
Author(s)	Massimiliano Castellani Andrea Macchi
Cover artist(s)	Antonio De Luca Quadra Studio (Federica Costantini, Mauro Alocci, Andrea Tentori Montalto)
Publication information
Publisher	CMON Games
Release date	14 November 2023 (early access)
ISBN	978-1-941427-53-8
Language	English
Pages	204

Forging History is the third and final book comprising the Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game published by CMON Games. It serves as a core campaign book, including three full storylines with multiple sequences each that are ready to play without alterations. In addition to this, there are suggestions for other sequences that can be added to further flesh out a session of these storylines ("sequence hooks") as well as other suggestions based on the time periods that are presented ("historical hooks").

Introduction to the storylines

The Sword of Mars

Enter the Animus to follow the trail of a legendary sword from European folklore. In the Modern Day, Templars and Assassins are competing to find a lost Piece of Eden and its missing shard. Your Descendants will travel from the German-occupied streets of Paris during World War II to the mythical dawn of the Roman Kingdom, where the Artifact's origins are buried. From there, they will have to piece together clues scattered throughout Britain from the Viking invasion to the foggy alleyways of the Industrial Revolution. Get ready to discover the story of the Sword of Mars, unravel its deepest secrets, and keep it from falling into the wrong hands.

Champions of Eden

Prepare to descend into horror as you confront some of the most iconic monsters of movies and literature. Mummies, vampires, and more await your Descendants in this high-stakes adventure. The discovery of three previously unknown Pieces of Eden threatens to plunge the modern world into eternal darkness. Armed with the weapons hidden in their own DNA and tasked with recovering the awakened Rings of Eden, the PCs must face horrific foes to protect humanity from impending doom.

Lost in Time

Dive into a conspiracy that goes deeper into the Templars' agenda, embarking on the rescue of a potential ally of the Brotherhood, kidnapped and trapped within a Simulation. Using cutting-edge Abstergo technology, the Descendants will enter the Animus as Echoes to follow the treacherous mission of a Templar seeking to reach an Isu Vault in North Africa during World War I. Meanwhile, a potent Precursor lurks behind the scenes, waiting for the Descendants to make their moves through the Simulation's rifts. ‘Lost in Time' is a modular campaign adventure that will put your players' nerves to the test at every turn.

Historical Hooks

• Roman Kingdom
• Ancient Greece
• Ptolemaic Egypt
• Golden Age Of Baghdad
• Viking Age

• The Assassination of Amulius: Romulus infiltrated King Amulius' residence to free his twin brother Remus from imprisonment and assassinate Amulius.
• The Conquest of Fidenae: The Roman army embarked on the conquest of the neighboring city of Fidenae, a key step in the expansion of early Rome.
• The Trial of Romulus King Romulus was accused of tyranny and despotism as discontent simmered among Rome's citizens.

• The Olympic Games of 428 BCE: During the Olympic Games of 428 BCE in Elis, the Spartan contenders could not compete. A group of unknown athletes stepped in, bringing the Olympic wreath home for Sparta.
• The Peace of Nicias: In 421 BCE, the chaos of the Peloponnesian War reached a moment of relative calm when the two cities negotiated the Peace of Nicias.
• The Trial of Sokrates: Sokrates was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens and impiety against the city's pantheon.
• Deadly Plague: In 430 BC, Athens was struck by a devastating plague. The outbreak wreaked havoc in the densely populated city and ultimately played a crucial role in its eventual downfall.

• Cleopatra and Caesar: In 48 BCE, amidst the turmoil of a power struggle, an alliance between Cleopatra and Julius Caesar would be formed in Alexandria, built on mutual political need.
• The Battle of the Nile: Caesar's forces secured a decisive victory at the Battle of the Nile. Supported by the forces of Mithridates of Pergamum, Caesar's legions triumphed over the larger army of Ptolemy XIII, who died on his capsized ship while fleeing.
• The Assassination of Julius Caesar: During the civil war, most of Caesar's opposition was eliminated, leading to him becoming a dictator and assuming sole control over Rome. Brutus and Cassius began recruiting senators and other allies to plot his assassination of him, which later came on the Ides of March in 44 BCE.
• The Battle of Actium: In 31 BCE, Octavian declared war on Antony and Cleopatra. Their naval forces met at Actium, where the forces of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa defeated the navy of Cleopatra and Antony.

• Escape: Fuladh, Basim, and a few Hidden Ones' allies infiltrated Damascus Gate Prison and freed Ali ibn Muhammad, leader of the Zanj Rebellion, before the guard quarters to recover a book containing information on the Ancient's activities in Baghdad.
• Assassination of Caliph al-Muntasir: The sudden illness and mysterious death of Caliph al-Muntasir in 862—after just one year of reign—raised suspicions of foul play orchestrated by agents loyal to Ahmad ibn al-Khasib, the ambitious vizier, to clear the path for Ahmad al-Musta'in's ascension.
• The Banu Musa Brothers: In Baghdad's House of Wisdom, Muḥammad, Aḥmad, and al-Ḥasan ibn Musa ibn Shakir were Persian scholars. They contributed substantially to mathematics, astronomy, and engineering, mainly through influential works such as the "Book of Ingenious Devices." This book detailed mechanical inventions and automata, integrating Greek, Persian, and Indian knowledge and setting the crucial groundwork for future scientific progress.

• The Siege of Paris: The siege of Paris in 885–886 marked a significant chapter in Viking raids along the Seine in the Kingdom of the West Franks. This pivotal event lasted over a year and was characterized by intense warfare, including siege tactics and attempts to breach the city's defenses.
• The Battle of Chippenham: The Battle of Chippenham occurred in the Kingdom of Wessex in the late 9th century. It was a pivotal conflict between the Anglo-Saxon forces led by King Alfred the Great and the Viking invaders.
• Viking Settlement in Iceland: The settlement of Iceland by Norse settlers began around 874, led by figures such as Ingólfr Arnarson. This marked the beginning of organized Norse colonization of the island.

• The Levant
• Italian Renaissance
• Ming Dynasty
• Golden Age Of Piracy
• American Revolutionary War

• The Siege of Acre: In 1189, as the Crusader forces from Europe were yet to arrive, the Kingdom of Jerusalem sought to seize the city of Acre with support from the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller. Sultan Saladin attempted to relieve Acre but became ensnared in a protracted stalemate against the besiegers.
• The Assassination of Robert de Sablé: Robert IV de Sablé, a powerful leader during the Third Crusade, was the eleventh Grand Master of the Knights Templar. When he was made Grand Master, he had been a Templar knight for less than a year, and died shortly after in 1193, on Holy Land soil.
• The Death of Genghis Khan: After suffering a severe injury between 1226 and 1227, Genghis Khan became increasingly ill. Despite his sons and commanders urging him to end the conquest campaign and being outraged by the taunting of Xia's leading commander, Genghis insisted on continuing. He died shortly after in August 1227.

• The Assassination of Marco Barbarigo: After the death of Doge Giovanni Mocenigo and his assassin Carlo Grimaldi, Marco Barbarigo was appointed Doge in 1485. After a short period of government, the Doge passed away on 14 August 1486 in ambiguous circumstances.
• The Pazzi Conspiracy: The "Congiura dei Pazzi" was an unsuccessful scheme orchestrated by members of the Pazzi family and their allies to overthrow the ruling Medici family in Florence. In 1478, an assassination attempt was made on Lorenzo de' Medici and his brother Giuliano. While Lorenzo suffered injuries but survived, Giuliano tragically lost his life in the attack.
• The Rescue of Caterina Sforza: Cesare Borgia captured Caterina Sforza and took her to Rome, where she was held captive in the Belvedere Palace. After an attempted escape, she was then imprisoned at Castel Sant'Angelo. To justify her imprisonment, Pope Alexander VI accused her of trying to kill him with letters impregnated with poison.

• Nine Dragon Wall: This magnificent and ornate wall is located within the Forbidden City complex. Legend has it that the wall—built at the Emperor's express request—was imbued with magical properties and that the nine dragons depicted on the stone would come to life and protect the Forbidden City in times of danger.
• The Prince of Ning Rebellion: In 1519, Zhu Chenhao sparked a rebellion, disputing the legitimacy of the Zhengde Emperor's rule and marching towards Nanjing. Zhu's forces were defeated after just a 42-day rebellion due to the strategic foresight of his enemies.
• Slavery: Daily-use encyclopedias such as the Wanbao quanshu, which targeted the lower classes, contained practical information, including sample contracts, for selling relatives to outsiders. Although officially illegal, the trafficking of children, the sale of wives and daughters into domestic bondage, and the recruitment of women for the imperial household as wet nurses and entertainers were not uncommon.

• The Siege of Charles-Towne: In 1718, the Spanish forces attempted to capture the British settlement in South Carolina but were repelled by the well-defended colonists after a prolonged siege.
• The Lost Treasure: The Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, sank off the coast of Florida in 1622. This ship was part of the Spanish Treasure Fleet and was loaded with gold, silver, jewels, and other valuable cargo destined for Spain. The Atocha's treasure sparked centuries of treasure hunting and salvaging efforts.
• The Treaty of Cudjoe's Town: Signed in 1739, the treaty marked a crucial agreement between the Maroons, led by Cudjoe, and British authorities in Jamaica. Cudjoe's leadership and strategic negotiation secured land and autonomy for the Maroons, setting a precedent for diplomatic engagement between colonial powers and marginalized communities.

• The Boston Tea Party: In 1773, tensions between American colonists and the British government's imposition of taxes reached a boiling point when three ships arrived in Boston's harbor carrying chests of tea. On the night of December 16, protesters boarded the ships and proceeded to dump over three hundred chests of tea into the harbor's waters.
• The Battle of Bunker Hill: On June 17, 1775, the American militia led by Colonel William Prescott defended Breed's Hill near Boston against the British troops under General Thomas Gage. Despite running low on ammunition, the Americans repulsed two British assaults before being forced to retreat.
• Tignon Law: In 1768, a group of free women of color refused to comply with the enforcement of the Tignon laws, which mandated that women of African descent wear headscarves as a symbol of their enslaved status. Their refusal led to heavy protests and demonstrations in New Orleans.

• French Revolution
• Industrial Revolution
• World War I
• World War II

• The Storming of the Bastille: During the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a pivotal event in the French Revolution, seven prisoners were released from the infamous prison, which symbolized royal authority and oppression.
• Jean-Paul Marat murder: Jean-Paul Marat, a prominent figure in the French Revolution, was murdered on July 13, 1793, by Charlotte Corday, a Girondin sympathizer.
• The Fall of Robespierre: On July 27, 1794, the National Convention accused Maximilien Robespierre and several of his supporters, including Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, of crimes against the state.

• The Regent's Canal Disaster: In July 1874, a barge carrying a large quantity of gunpowder exploded on the Regent's Canal in Maida Vale. The explosion caused extensive damage to nearby buildings and resulted in several fatalities and injuries.
• Napoleon of crime In 1876, Thomas Gainsborough's portrait of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, disappeared from the Thomas Agnew & Sons gallery in London. Suspicions arose regarding Adam Worth's involvement, the "Napoleon of crime."
• Elementary: In 1887, Arthur Conan Doyle's first detective novel, "A Study in Scarlet," debuted in Beeton's Christmas Annual by Ward, Lock & Co. in London. This introduced readers to the London consulting detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend and chronicler Dr. Watson.
• Jack the Ripper Jack the Ripper, a serial killer and an enigmatic figure shrouded in mystery, terrorized the impoverished Whitechapel district of London, England, in 1888.

• The Curse of the Red Baron: Manfred von Richthofen, also known as the "Red Baron", was one of the most renowned and feared fighter pilots of World War I, credited with shooting down over 80 enemy aircraft. Some believed that he was protected by a supernatural force.
• Angels of Mons: British soldiers claimed to have been miraculously saved by angelic beings during the Battle of Mons in 1914. These angelic figures were said to have intervened, shielding the British troops from enemy fire and guiding them to safety.
• Grigori Rasputin Assassination: Rasputin, who held considerable influence over Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, Empress Alexandra, was assassinated on December 30, 1916.

• Operation Sealion: As part of Operation Sealion, a planned invasion of Britain, Nazi agents scoured Europe for artifacts associated with the Grail, hoping to harness its supposed supernatural abilities.
• The Quest for the Spear of Destiny: The Spear was believed to be held in Vienna's Hofburg Museum, and it was reportedly seized by Hitler's forces when they annexed Austria in 1938.
• The Theft of the Amber Room: The room was located in the Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia, and during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in World War II, the Nazis looted the Amber Room and transported it to Königsberg.
• Reinhard Heydrich's Death: In 1942, Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík headed a team on a mission to assassinate "the man with the iron heart", a high-ranking German SS, that led to his death in a Prague's hospital bed.

Supplementary material

The campaign book includes a number of database-like entries.

• Excalibur and the Sword of Mars
• The Sages
• Juno's Masterplan

Excalibur, the legendary sword of King Arthur, is no less than the Sword of Mars that the Crew is looking for. In the 5th century, King Arthur drew the sword from a stone, earning the trust of the Women of the Mist, a group of Celtic witch-warriors from Avalon, the guardians of Excalibur. Arthur later distanced himself from them due to his affiliation with the Order of the Ancients, giving rise to a rival group, the Descendants of the Round Table. After Arthur's demise, the clan safeguarded Excalibur beneath Stonehenge, until the late 9th century when Viking Eivor Varinsdottir took it. In 878, Niamh of Argyll, a priestess of the Women of the Mist, was instructed by their Lady to spy on the organization called the Hidden Ones and retrieve the sword. Despite facing numerous challenges, Niamh succeeded in her mission. Currently, Excalibur is in her possession.

Aita was an Isu scientist and Juno's husband. As the Toba Catastrophe approached, Aita volunteered to test one of the methods the Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Minerva, and Juno) had devised to survive the disaster—the transference of Isu consciousness into an artificial body. The experiment failed, and Aita was left trapped inside the surrogate body, slowly driven insane by his predicament. Juno could neither heal nor rescue Aita and was forced to put him out of his misery. Before doing so, Juno preserved his genetic material by inserting it into human DNA in order to create the Sages. By this means, Aita has been reincarnated in a series of humans over the millennia, each Sage echoing his physical appearance and his opinions concerning the inferiority of the human race. Aita's goal is to manifest Juno in physical form so that they may be reunited.

This information can be shared with the Players when the Reader deems it appropriate. For example, the Descendants might discover the details of Juno's plan by talking to her during the Sands of War Simulation Sequence (see page 146), or they could find files in the facility's Control Room in the first modern day Sequence. If the Reader intends to use this adventure as the first part of a longer campaign, they might decide to save the more salient details for a later adventure.

PREMISE

Thanks to her ability to accurately predict future events, Juno set plans in motion in the early twentieth century to bring one of her many schemes to fruition a century later, using the Descendants as her unwitting dupes. Juno's goal is to return to life and regain physical form to impose her will over humanity, restoring the order conceived millennia ago by the Isu.

THE PERFECT MOLE

The Instruments of the First Will and the Sages (see box on page 138) are Juno's means to put each piece in the right place at the right time. Anjali is one such Instrument, who infiltrated the ranks of the Brotherhood in 2010, faithfully serving the Creed so that he would be present at this crucial moment.

THE SIMULATION TRAP

The kidnapping of Regina Davies is really a trap set for the Descendants. As soon as the Witnesses reach the Isu Vault in the Simulation Sequence, they are ensnared by a sophisticated program conceived by Aita when he was testing Juno's plan to escape the catastrophe.

JUNO'S VESSEL

While a series of glitches trap the Descendants in a labyrinth of broken Simulations, Juno intends to tap into the genetic makeup of each of them, matching it with Regina's. These specific Descendants have a genetic disposition that makes them suitable for Juno's plan. Over the centuries, the Sages have made it possible to store enough of Juno's essence in the threads of Descendant DNA as if they were shreds of a living Shroud of Eden. Regina is the compatible subject, whose physical body will become a vessel inhabited by Juno's essence transferred via the Descendants.