Den of the Beast

Den of the Beast was a virtual representation of one of Basim ibn Ishaq's genetic memories relived through the Animus.

Description

Basim met with Ali ibn Muhammad outside The Great Garrison.

Dialogue

Basim met with Ali on a rooftop opposite the Great Garrison.

• Basim: Ali. Are you ready?

Ali pointed him to a group of individuals on the ground in the distance, with Wasif al-Turki and Muhammad ibn Tahir amongst them.

• Wasif: And who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?
• Muhammad: There is more at stake here than your pride, Wasif. We walk a narrow path.

Wasif in a dispute with Muhammad

• Wasif: Enough! Take care what you say when we next meet, Governor. I will not suffer such insult twice.

After threatening Muhammad, Wasif left with his guards, while Muhammad took his leave.

• Ali: That's Wasif and Baghdad's governor, Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Tahir. He gave Wasif an order. The warlord did not like it.
• Basim: The Governor of Baghdad has no authority over the Warlord, unless... Could he also be with the Order?
• Ali: Muhammad? I don't believe it. He is not just Governor, he is a poet, and a scholar. The man has spirit. I hoped to make him an ally.
• Basim: Well, I hope you are right. Wasif is enough to deal with. I just have to find a way inside the Garrison.
• Ali: One of the stewards inside is loyal to me. You will find him near the cookhouse. When he sees the red sash, he will help you.
• Basim: What will you do?
• Ali: I will find Beshi, and then free other rebels being held in the prison. Wasif I leave to you.

Ali left Basim alone.

Wasif in his Order mask and robe

• Basim: Warlord. You cloak yourself in the Caliph's colors so you can kidnap and kill at will. You are a plague upon the land. Its soil is red with the blood of those you have butchered. All because they sought their freedom... or because you feared they would. You think yourself untouchable, surrounded by your soldiers. But we will storm the Garrison, free Beshi, and see your reign of terror end.

Basim observed the walls surrounding the garrison, many embedded with spikes.

• Basim: Those walls do not look climbable. I will have to find another way in.

Basim eavesdropping near a bench

Basim approached near the garrison and sat down near a bench, eavesdropping on two individuals commenting on the walls.

• Civilian 1: Those garrison walls are useless as they are. Have you seen the holes in the Garrison walls? What's the point of having walls if they have holes in them?
• Civilian 2: You mean the construction? There are guards everywhere. No one's getting in or out of that place without being caught.
• Basim: There might be a way in along the northern wall. I should take a look.

Basim headed towards the northern section of the wall.

• Garrison Cook: Bring the Narbaj (pomegranate juice stew) and the meal when it's ready. And forget your knives! We've got a lot more to take to the barracks. You're going to need both hands for carrying.

Basim entering the wall's northern section

Looking around, he found the wall under repairs, allowing an opening for him to enter.

• Basim: There is a steward here loyal to Ali. He will be somewhere near the cookhouse.

Basim made his way to the cookhouse, where he overheard a guard talking about a key.

• Soldier 1: I'll bet he's left the key in that mess of a room.
• Basim: Where there is a key, there is a lock... or a gate.
• Steward: Over here!

Basim found Ali's man in the cookhouse.

• Basim: You are Ali's man?'

Basim meeting Ali's contact

• Steward: I saw your red sash. We must be quick. Wasif is in the inner garrison. I can get you through a side entrance, but we cannot be seen together. Follow me at a distance, and stay out of sight.
• Basim: I understand.
• Steward: Tell me when you're ready to go.
• Basim: All right, let us go.

The steward began making his way to the entrance.

• Steward: I will walk in the open to avoid suspicion. Follow me at a distance, and stay in cover.

Basim followed him from behind.

• Steward: Try to stay in the shadows.

Listening to his words, Basim made use of the tall patch of grass around the fences to navigate.

• Soldier 2: Have you heard those screams? It's like ghosts or something. I heard the prison is haunted.
• Soldier 3: Something's happening down there that isn't... right. I heard the same thing at Damascus Gate. You don't want to know.

The steward stopped to speak to a soldier.

• Steward: I hope they fix the walls soon.
• Soldier 4: You and me both. My patrols will be shorter, for one thing.

Basim followed the steward to an inner courtyard, where a captain is giving orders to the guards.

• Soldier 5: Warlord Wasif is back, so no shirking on your patrols. Do the full round, all the way to the construction. If I catch any of you shortcutting, you'll lose a week's pay and be on latrine duty for a month.

The steward spoke to guard near the entrance to the southern section of the garrison.

• Steward: Everything seems quiet enough, my friend.
• Soldier 6: I'm not your friend. Be about your business, and be quick.

He spotted Basim following him from afar.

• Steward: So far, so good. We're half-way. Remember, stay hidden. If you fail, I will not be able to help and you must find your way.

They reached the barracks.

• Basim: This is the barracks. Wasif's room is probably further inside.

Basim followed the stewards up the stairs to a room, where the steward unlocked the door.

• Steward: Finally. This door will lead you to Wasif. Now, I must get back.

Basim inside Wasif's room

Basim entered a small room inside.

• Basim: Wasif's room. It is surprisingly bare for a man of his rank.

He read a note on a table.

Dusty Memoir

I was a boy when they took me, and sent me to the blacksmith. That bastard beat me, but I made myself strong just like you taught me.

As soon as I was big enough, I broke his neck with my hands. I squeezed until I felt it snap. There was no anger in his eyes then. The only thing I saw before they filled up with blood was fear.

You would have been proud of me, Mama.

• Basim: This is an elaborate shrine. Wasif must have loved his mother.

Basim entered the inner courtyard through the door.

• Soldier 7: Stand straight and eyes front! The Warlord is arriving and will tolerate no disorder!

Beshi held captive in the courtyard

He found Beshi tied up and seated in a pool of water, surrounded by the Turkic guards. Wasif exited his room and took a greatsword from a guard. He slowly circled Beshi, praising the sword's craftsmanship and giving it a few swings.

• Wasif: Better. The heft is good, the balance too. The hilt is still a bit tight. Let us see if the edge is better.

He gave it an experimental twirl and returned to stand before Beshi, quoted a hadith from the muhaddith Muhammad al-Bukhari's book Al-Adab al-Mufrad, and pointed the blade at Beshi's chest.

• Wasif: "Whoever bears arms against us is not one of us." You chose the wrong side, my friend.

In defiant response, Beshi quoted the surah Al-An'am's 57th āyah from the Quran back at him.

• Beshi: Judgement belongs to Allah! Not you!

Wasif killing Beshi

Angered, Wasif slowly pushed his sword through Beshi's chest, killing him. Meanwhile, Basim killed a guard and saw that it was too late to save Beshi.

• Wasif: It's still sticking. Make the blood grooves deeper.

As Wasif returned to the building, Basim saw Ali stand in the courtyard for the guards to notice.

• Soldier 8: Time to put the dog down!

Ali and Basim mourning Beshi

The soldiers attacked Ali, who defended himself. Basim joined him in eliminating the guards. With the guards taken care of, Ali approached Beshi's body and mourned him.

• Basim: We should free the others. Then you can lead your men outside. I will deal with Wasif.
• Ali: Outside? Don't be foolish. This is the perfect beginning. We are going to pull this place down.

Basim placed his hand on Ali's shoulder, comforting him for Beshi's death. He and Ali then went into a building, where they found a prison cell containing the rebels inside.

• Rebel: The Warden has the key to our cells. Be careful! He is more dangerous than he looks.

Basim left to look around the inner courtyard and found the warden with the keys to the cell.

• Basim: There is the Warden.

He was able to recover the keys.

• Basim: Key to the cells. Now to release the others.
• Soldier 9: Stay alert! There's been word of strange noises.
• Soldier 10: When are there not strange noises?
• Soldier 11: Just keep your head on a swivel.

Basim freeing the rebels

Basim returned to the prison cell and unlocked the door, freeing the rebels.

• Rebel 1: Here! Alhamdulillah! (Praise be to God!)
• Rebel 2: You have our thanks! Ali will lead us to our revenge. For Beshi!

The rebels gathered around Ali. Basim went to speak to him.

• Basim: Your men are free. Now I must find Wasif.
• Ali: There is a signal fire just above here. Once lit, it will raise an alarm throughout the Garrison. The guards will come to us.
• Basim: And I will find a way into his room while he is alone. All right. We will light the fire.
• Ali: Do not forget our agreement.
• Basim: I have not forgotten.

Basim lighting the brazier

Basim climbed up to the tower and lit the signal brazier on fire. This lured out the Turkic soldiers inside Wasif's building, who drew the swords. Ali let out a rally cry and he and the rebels charged towards to the guards, triggering a battle. This allowed Basim to freerun to the building's balcony on the second floor. He unlocked the door hatch on the ground and entered it, jumping down to the first floor.

• Soldier 12: What do we do? We are surrounded.
• Wasif: Be silent! Take this down, quickly. The Zindeeq (heretic) Ali and his rebels have attacked the garrison. Request reinforcements. Seal the letter. When the door is breached, find a way through and deliver it to the Caliph. On your life!
• Soldier 12: Y-yes, sayyidi!

Wasif's men left the building.

Basim assassinating Wasif

• Basim: Composed and silent, even when trapped. Al-Mardikhwar indeed.

With Wasif now left defenseless, Basim attacked and killed him.

• Wasif: A feather... isn't that ironic? Was it taken from an eagle who fell out of the sky?
• Basim: A symbol of freedom. A word you did not use often. And never will again.
• Wasif: Oh... so this is freedom? Yet, I do not see any way out...

Basim again haunted by the djinn

In the Memory Corridor, the surrounding turned to dark, signaling the djinn's return once again. With Wasif dead, Ali entered the building and found Basim near Wasif's body. As Ali's men prepared to enter, Ali looked at Basim, who nodded his head to signal their plan to portray Ali as Wasif's killer. Ali drew his sword and stabbed Wasif's body as the rebels entered.

• Ali: Argh!

The rebels cheered. Ali and Basim heard knocking on the opposite door, signaling the soldiers' arrival.

• Ali: We will have to fight our way out. Our revolution begins now. With me!
• Basim: This may not be good.

Outcome

Basim managed to assassinate Wasif, though not without losing Beshi.

Gallery

• 
  Basim met with Ali on a roof
• 
  Basim and Ali spotting Wasif and Muhammad
• 
  Victims of Wasif's brutality
• 
  Wasif unmasked
• 
  Basim investigating scrolls in a room
• 
  Basim inside the inner courtyard
• 
  Wasif making his appearance
• 
  Wasif circling Beshi, inspecting the sword
• 
  Ali making himself known to the guards
• 
  Basim and Ali fighting the guards
• 
  Basim and Ali in a cell with captured rebels
• 
  Basim locating the warden
• 
  The Turkic guards emerging from Wasif's quarters
• 
  Ali rallying his rebels
• 
  The rebels fighting the guards
• 
  Basim entering the room below through a hatch
• 
  Basim sneaking up near Wasif
• 
  Basim and Wasif in the memory corridor
• 
  Basim dipping the feather with Wasif's blood
• 
  Ali finding Basim and Wasif's body
• 
  Ali presenting himself as Wasif's killer to his men
• 
  Ali inviting Basim to join the fight outside

References

• Assassin's Creed: Mirage