The Grand Temple Key
The Grand Temple Key is an amulet-like Piece of Eden whose primary function was that of a key to unlock the Eye in the Grand Temple, New York.
Owners
- Miko (? – 1754)
- Haytham Kenway (1754 – 1781)
- Charles Lee (1781 – 1782)
- Ratonhnhaké:ton (1782 – 1783)
- Desmond Miles (2012)
Appearance
The key was circular and had a hole in the middle. It key featured an Ouroboros design of a serpent biting its own tail, symbolizing cycles and infinity. The key was also decorated with the twelve astrological signs of the Western zodiac, the symbol of Venus as well as other incomplete symbols likely denoting other classical planets.[1]
History
In 1754, the key was in the possession of the British Assassin Miko. On the orders of Reginald Birch, Grand Master of the British Templars, Haytham Kenway assassinated Miko inside the Theatre Royal in London and took the key from him. Upon Haytham's return to the Templar headquarters, Birch told Haytham that the key most likely opened a First Civilization storehouse in the British colonies. As a result, Birch booked Haytham passage to Boston, in order to find it and unlock its contents, and to establish a permanent Templar presence in colonial America.[2]
During 1755, Haytham, with the help of Kaniehtí:io from the Kanien'kehá:ka nation, located the entrance to the Grand Temple, but they were unable to access it, as he did not possess an Apple of Eden to open the first door. Following this, Haytham kept the amulet in his possession until 1781, when he passed it on to his second-in-command, Charles Lee.[2]
In the following year, the Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton, Haytham's son, killed Charles Lee in Monmouth and took the amulet from him. He later returned to his village, Kanatahséton, where he activated his tribe's Crystal Ball he had used years earlier to communicate with Juno. Juno greeted Ratonhnhaké:ton again, and told him to hide the amulet where none might find it. Following this, he made his way back to the manor at the Davenport Homestead and hid the key in the grave of Connor Davenport, after whom Ratonhnhaké:ton's mentor Achilles Davenport had nicknamed him.[2]
In 2012, Ratonhnhaké:ton's descendant, Desmond Miles, relived his memories inside the Animus and found out that the key was hidden in Connor Davenport's grave. After having retrieved it, Desmond used it to open the inner gateway of the Grand Temple.[2]
Trivia
- Although Ratonhnhaké:ton canonically buried the key, it could still be found with the other mementos of Ratonhnhaké:ton's targets in the basement of the Davenport Homestead.
References
