The Animus allows Desmond to relive the "genetic memories" of his ancestor, , a master assassin in the year 1191. Abstergo’s goal is to locate a powerful artifact known as a Piece of Eden (specifically the Apple of Eden) that they believe Altaïr once possessed. The Historical Story (1191) Altaïr's journey is one of failure and redemption:
Altaïr returns to the Assassins' stronghold in and defeats Al Mualim. Upon Al Mualim’s death, the Apple activates, projecting a holographic map of the world that reveals the locations of other Pieces of Eden scattered across the globe. ac1.7z
: As Altaïr eliminates his targets, he discovers a common thread: they were all members of the Templar Order working with Robert de Sablé to unite the Holy Land through control rather than faith. The Animus allows Desmond to relive the "genetic