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Something has been troubling me ever since Ubisoft has released the Templar Order Lore video narrated by Darby McDevitt. I remember @MlleBellec asking a question whether Cult of Kosmos was a proto-Templar organization or not. I remember Darby giving an answer something like 
"An organization that spreads chaos? No." This answer honestly left me confused and a bit angry if I am to be honest. Because, and I am sorry if I somehow offend you by stating such "heresy", I am convinced Darby is ultimately wrong. Please note that in any way, shape or form
am I trying to insult Darby. I love and respect the man, but I just wanted to address this (because some of you know what kind of a Templar fan I am and how very attentively I study the lore around the Order and how displeased I am when narrative, as in Origins, takes a direct
black and white approach 
) It made me think that Darby misunderstood the information presented in Odyssey since the narrative of the game directly contradicts what Darby stated. And I also think I should note that in my opinion, in this situation I can
) It made me think that Darby misunderstood the information presented in Odyssey since the narrative of the game directly contradicts what Darby stated. And I also think I should note that in my opinion, in this situation I can
challenge what Darby stated for a few reasons:
- Odyssey in-game info that contradicts Darby's words;
- Not a single moment in Valhalla that challenged Cult as a proto-Templar organization;
- Darby is not a lore master;
- Darby is not Odyssey Narrative Director.
- Odyssey in-game info that contradicts Darby's words;
- Not a single moment in Valhalla that challenged Cult as a proto-Templar organization;
- Darby is not a lore master;
- Darby is not Odyssey Narrative Director.
With this in mind (again no offense to the man himself) I want to move on to the Cult of Kosmos. Cult of Kosmos was a secret society that sought to unite the Greek World and bring Order in the exact same fashion any proto-Templar organization would do it (yup, you heard that
right). They sought to create a society driven by progress. We know of 2 major events which Cult wanted to manipulate to bring Order to the Greek World. At one point the Cult was a very close ally to another proto-Templar organization - the Order of the Ancients.
They were quite close allies who operated in their respective regions and were united by the same goal - an ultimate Templar goal. The Order funded the Cult while in return Cult provided the Order with the Stronghold in Messenia - Greece. Both Cult and the Order supported the
Persian King Xerxes in an attempt to attack and conquer Greece. For Order it was an opportunity to spread the influence, for Cult to achieve their goal. While Order manipulated Xerxes to make advances against Greece, their allies the Cult confronted the King Leonidas do
step down and do nothing, an endeavor in which they failed. But they tried to reason with him and persuade that Xerxes will bring order to the Greek World: "Xerxes will bring order to the chaos". The operation failed of course. After this both Order and Cult stopped
communicating too much since both were occupied with troubles in their respective regions. According to the Cult the Greek World grew ever more chaotic. The Cult then created another plan: they would orchestrate a controlled war between biggest giants of Greece
to clean the area a bit and start anew - build an orderly society by the people for the people. However everything changed when an human-Isu Hybrid Alexios was brought into the Cult. A beast that was meant to be used as a weapon went out of control. He made half the Cult
submit to him. The others began to worship him as demigod. The Cult's leader The Ghost of Kosmos Aspasia lost control and long story short the Cult went completely corrupt and chaotic. It forgot about its original goal and orderly war went out of control as well and engulfed
the Greek World into a complete chaos. Aspasia then manipulated Kassandra to destroy the Cult, so she can then begin anew and go back to the roots and the ideals this organization fought for. Yes, Aelfred, you weren't the first, my guy (sorry, still mad at that lazy
copy/paste done by Valhalla). The events in the Greek World made Order furious with Cult's actions and made them intervene to stop the war and, yeah, restore order (spoiler alert, Order succeeded, but that is another story). Anyway at first Order was cautious so the Cult
doesn't know about their presence since Order was disgusted that Cult has betrayed their initial ideals. However with time the presence of the Order grew and it was impossible to hide. Order needed their stronghold in Messenia that Cult gave them, so they made a shaky alliance
One of the Order diplomats and even one of the Magi Gergis the Herald shamelessly criticized the Cult and how low it has fallen, once again confirming that originally Cult was standing for the Templar ideals. But the alliance was the means to the end. Just like Aspasia,
Order figured that Cult was beyond saving and planned to eliminate them as well, but that is besides the point.
The thing is. The main game, especially the Cult ending and Legacy of the First Blade DLC confirm without a doubt that the Cult of Kosmos is indeed a proto-Templar
The thing is. The main game, especially the Cult ending and Legacy of the First Blade DLC confirm without a doubt that the Cult of Kosmos is indeed a proto-Templar
organization. To say that they are not proto-Templars because they were spreading chaos when they went corrupt is as if to say Rodrigo Borgia is not an official Templar because he and his son Cesare betrayed the Order's ideals and pursued their own egoistic agenda
(spread chaos too) Borgia family were traitors to the Order's cause and similarly to the Cult that was later despised by the Order,Borgias were despised by Templars to come. You may say they aren't proto-Templars since they were not the ones to evolve into Templars.
Ok, but by this logic Iltani, Darius, Adam and Eve and dozens upon dozens freedom fighters before Bayek and Aya are not proto-Assassins because it weren't them who evolved into the Brotherhood we know now, right?
You get the point.
You get the point.
Finally in Assassin's Creed: Revelations in Abstergo Industries' Data Base from multiplayer that Juhani Otso Berg studies it is stated that before the reformation of the Order into the Templar Order the Order existed since the dawn of time under different names.
They were there when Xerxes threw his armies at Greece; when Cleopatra ascended to the Egyptian throne, etc. Different names, same goal. Mythical Children of Cain, the Order of the Ancients, the Cult of Kosmos are all proto-Templar organizations by this logic.
So yeah, just decided to put my thoughts down for whoever may notice this. I was a bit bored, so decided to do a thread for whatever reason. But as a Tempar fan, I was really confused by Darby's statement. Again, nothing against Mr. McDevitt himself, I deeply respect him.
Oh yeah and Kosmos means "Order", lol.
I have obviously skipped over tons of details and stuff. I do understand that Cult is a bit tricky one, but honestly it was so much fun to uncover its mystery.
I have obviously skipped over tons of details and stuff. I do understand that Cult is a bit tricky one, but honestly it was so much fun to uncover its mystery.
Yeah, this is what happens when you desperately refuse to go to sleep. 
Should also note that all info is taken from the main game of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Legacy of the First Blade DLC and Assassin's Creed Revelations multiplayer Data Base. This was a spontaneous thread with no aim to call someby out, so I didn't take time to make
screenshots of info presented here.
