Follow the Fiery Trail

Follow the Fiery Trail was a virtual representation of one of Basim ibn Ishaq's genetic memories relived through the Animus.

Description

Basim investigates the book burning at the House of Wisdom.

Dialogue

Basim investigated the House of Wisdom about the book fire.

• Civilian: Where is Hunayn? He owes me money.
• Civilian: I don't know, ask the Caretaker of Books.
• Civilian: Somebody posted guards around the library.
• Civilian: What is going on these days?

Basim found a note on a table near the spectacle.

Missing Books

Please locate the following books and return them to the Southwest Wing as soon as feasible:

Kitab al-Hiyal
Kalila wa-Dimna
Kitab al-Azif

You must also return the ancient manuscript written in an unknown tongue.

• Basim: A partial list of books that have been burned or gone missing. What is "an ancient manuscript in an unknown tongue"? I should check the second floor.

Basim at the guarded second floor

Basim headed to the second floor, which he found to be heavily guarded.

• Basim: The library is guarded. Something must have happened.

Basim overheard guards talking while heading towards the southwest wing.

• Soldier: What a bloody mess.
• Soldier: That's nothing. I saw worse in the eastern campaigns.
• Soldier: But this is a library! We should do something.
• Soldier: They don't pay me enough to care.

Basim discovering the deceased caretaker

Basim found the caretaker dead in his chair.

• Basim: The Caretaker of Books!

Basim found notes on the floor.

• Basim: He's dead! But he wrote "mansakh" (scriptorium) in his own blood. I wonder...

Basim inspected the caretaker's body.

• Basim: Something in his hand. Fabric, torn from a woman's gown. But whose?

Basim complied his findings.

• Basim: Strange fires and a dead caretaker... horrifying. I should hurry.

Basim arriving at the Scriptorium

From his clue, Basim headed towards the Scriptorium. Upon arrival, he saw it guarded by many Abbasid Caliphate soldiers.

• Basim: Better keep my open.

Basim infiltrated the area and eavesdropped on the guards.

• Soldier: Attention! Prepare the prisoner on Zahra's orders.
• Basim: A prisoner, here? That guard might have the key.
• Soldier: Have a heart. The man's not had a good meal in days.
• Soldier: We got our orders. Nobody goes in to see the guest.
• Soldier: Poor guy locked in with a bunch of books. I'd go mad.

Basim tailed the soldier with the key and stole it from him. Basim neared closer to a locked building.

• Hunayn: Books will only bring you sorrow, mother said. Go into business! Get a market stall, be happy. If only I had listened! How right she was!

Hunayn pleading for his life as Basim entered the building

Basim unlocked the door and found the scholar Hunayn inside.

• Hunayn: Don't kill me! Please, give me more time, I... I almost cracked it!
• Basim: Don't worry,, I'm not here to kill you. What are you trying to crack?
• Hunayn: The book! I said I couldn't. This is not a language that I know. But she gave me no choice.
• Basim: Who?
• Hunayn: A woman named Zahra, one of the scholars here.
• Basim: What is this book? What is it called?

Basim looking at the contents of the book

• Hunayn: The only thing I know is that it is written in a script unlike any other and I have seen hundreds... The way Zahra talks, it's more of an artifact or relic than a book. I lied about my progress so they wouldn't kill me. I can't read a single word. I don't even know if it's a language.
• Basim: Where can I find Zahra?
• Hunayn: I don't know, she could be anywhere in the city. I... I just want to go home.
• Basim: All right. Get to safety before the guards return.

Basim let Hunayn escape while he investigated the building.

• Basim: Must be something here to help me.

Basim found a note from Hunayn to Zahra.

Hunayn's Note

Zahra,

I have tried every language I know, every trick in my translator's bag of tricks. But this ominous book resists all efforts to translate it. What else can I do?

- Hunayn the Translator

Basim neared closer to the book Hunayn mentioned.

• Basim: This book makes me uncomfortable. I will leave it here.

Basim found a poem between Zahra and another Order of the Ancients member.

An Orderly Poem

To my Al-Zarik,

Demoness green and yellow too,

My dragon's kiss I leave upon you.

As the wise Poet Arib once wrote,

You are my law, you are my Order.

- Al-Azhdaha

• Basim: This Order letter mentions Arib. An innocent reference, or something more sinister?

Basim finding a diagram similar to the one he found in Ahmad's workshop

Basim found a similar blueprint on the second floor.

• Basim: This peculiar machine. I saw something like it in Ahmad's workshop.

Basim also found a note on the second floor.

Book Deliveries

Zahra wants the additional books taken from the House of Wisdom to be delivered directly to her personal residence at the Scholar's Estate. Do not bring them here.

• Basim: This letter gives the location of the scholar Zahra's estate.

Basim concluded his findings.

• Basim: Time to visit Zahra's estate and see if she's involved with the Order.

Basim left the Scriptorium and ventured towards Zahra's estate. Upon his arrival, he noticed the place empty.

• Basim: Zahra's estate, but nobody's home. Now is my chance to search her place.

Basim found a book of Arib's in the estate

Basim entered into Zahra's main building and found another book of poetry.

• Basim: Another book of poetry by Arib. She is definitely popular in certain circles.

Basim found a note near the entrance.

A Humble Request

Zahra,

I hear that the priceless artifact you hold is nearly ready to reveal its secrets. You know of my searches for the traces of Those Who Came Before and the care with which they are effected. Once your academic interest is sated, I should like to have the manuscript in my keeping. It would be treated with supreme reverence and safeguarded against all peril.

- Al-Ghul

Basim found a note incriminating Zahra to be part of the Order.

Incriminating Letter

Al-Zarik,

The Order is pleased with our accomplishments within the House of Wisdom. The future will sing tales of our glorious deeds and the prospect of our rule.

I trust you are on your way back to the city to await further instructions.

- Al-Rabisu

• Basim: Zahra is definitely tied to the Order. Along with somebody named Al-Rabisu.

Basim complied all his findings.

• Basim: Learned all I can. Better get to high ground and get ready Zahra might return any minute.

Zahra arrives with her bodyguards at her estate

Basim left the building and found a vantage point where he waited for Zahra's arrival. After a moment, she arrived with her bodyguards.

• Zahra the Scholar: Servants! Prepare a glass of date juice on ice. And serve it with a plate of honeyed bread and pomegranates. Then prepare the bath salts! I am utterly beat.

Zahra sat down and began to fan herself while her servants brought her refreshments.

• Zahra the Scholar: Paradise is where you find it.

Zahra relaxing on a bench while being served by her servants

Zahara spoke with one of her bodyguards.

• Zahra the Scholar: That old fool tinkering with his worthless ancient disc and helpless patients. Bah!
• Soldier: Of course, sayyidati (my lady).
• Zahra the Scholar: The real answers are in books. They are always in books. Am I not right?
• Soldier: Always, sayyidati (my lady).
• Zahra the Scholar: When I get that book translated, then we'll see who is the real head of the Order.
• Soldier: As you wish, sayyidati (my lady).

Basim may have disturbed Zahra without being detected.

• Zahra the Scholar: Something's wrong. Guards! Search the estate for intruders. Gut them like fish!

Basim waited for his chance and then assassinated Zahra. Upon her personal effects, Basim found a letter to Al-Rabisu.

Translation progress

Al-Rabisu,

Thanks to your masterful deception with the fire at the House of Wisdom, the prisoner is translating the nameless book as we speak.

He shall not set foot outside the Scriptorium until his work is done.

Once we have the proper insight to the artifact's inner workings, we shall get our "Great Work", Alruh, functioning.

- Zahra

• Basim: Zahra thought that strange book would get their "Great Work" functioning. Good thing Hunayn could not translate a single word. I should return to the Rafiq.

Outcome

Basim freed the translator kidnapped by the Order and assassinated Zahara, who aided in the destruction of books at the House of Wisdom and kidnapped Hunayn.

Gallery

• 
  Basim finding something in the caretaker's hand
• 
  Basim discovering soldiers guarding the door to the building
• 
  Basim obtaining the guard's keys
• 
  Basim outside the door
• 
  Hunayn showing Basim the manuscript
• 
  Hunayn pleading to be returned home
• 
  Basim looking around the building
• 
  Basim investigating an armory at he Scholar's Estate
• 
  Basim waiting on the roof
• 
  Basim finds Zahra with her Turkic guards
• 
  Basim assassinating Zahra

References

• Assassin's Creed: Mirage