Secrets of the First Pyramids

Secrets of the First Pyramids was a virtual representation of one of Bayek's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.

Description

Bayek meets a scholar in relentless pursuit of a long-lost vault hidden somewhere among the first pyramids.

Dialogue

While travelling in the Saqqara Nome, Bayek found a scholar being pursued by bandits.

• Merkes: This beast will be my death! Gods save me from bandits and blasted camels! Faster! Run, you plodding beast! If they catch us, who knows what will be lost? And they will probably eat you!
• Bandit 1: Do not let him escape!
• Bandit 2: Try to cut him off!

Bayek attacked the bandits and eliminated them.

• Merkes: Oh, well, look at that! Good, good. That was a bit too close, hmm? Is that a Medjay badge? Fascinating. I thought they were all extinct. As skilled as I'd read.

Bayek spoke to the scholar.

• Merkes: That was extraordinary! Well done. Who sent you? Was it Kition or Heraclides? They thought I couldn't handle myself out here, but we've shown them, haven't we?
• Bayek: Have we? What are you doing out here?
• Merkes: Are you joking, neb? We are searching for the lost vault of the great Sneferu, the founder of the golden age of the Old Kingdom!
• Bayek: And how are we doing that?
• Merkes: Didn't they tell you anything before they sent you after me?
• Bayek: Remind me.

Merkes requesting Bayek's help in solving the mystery

• Merkes: Acording to my research, Sneferu hid three artifacts in his pyramids. One in the Meidum, his first, and failed, pyramid. Another in the Bent, whose design he obviously modified after the Meidum's collapse. And one in his final masterpiece and tomb, the Shining Pyramid. I have one artifact, but those bandits stole another from me. You'll need to get it back for us!
• Bayek: Where was this?
• Merkes: They camp in the cliffs to the west of Memphis. You can find them by following the stream. Also, you'll need to find a way into the Shining Pyramid, to get the last artifact. I think there's an opening high up, but it's quite the climb. In my youth I could have done it, but...
• Bayek: I will take a look. How many bandits were there?
• Merkes: All of them, I think.

Bayek spoke to the scholar again before heading out.

• Bayek: What makes you think the third artefact is in the Shining Pyramid?
• Merkes: Each of the three tombs held one, according to my findings. These pyramids were built by Pharaoh Sneferu during his reign, you see. He took what Imhotep had designed for Pharaoh Djoser, and improved upon it. Meidum was the first, but a design flaw led to a grave collapse. Then came the Bent. Its unique shape is due to an alteration that saved it from suffering the same fate as its brother. The Meidum and the Bent could not keep their secrets from me. Inside each, I found the artifacts indicated in Manetho's Aegyptiaca. You've read it, yes?
• Bayek: Mmm.
• Merkes: So you'll remember that the third is said to be contained within the Shining Pyramid, his masterpiece. Of course, it's also the pyramid that has stifled my progress.
• Bayek: The Shining Pyramid?
• Merkes: Yes. Sneferu, whose light shines eternal, lies within.
• Bayek: Of course.
• Merkes: I'll head back to camp to try to unravel the mystery. My camp is in the shadow of the last pyramid. Meet me there, at Sneferu's Tomb, when you've found the other artifacts.

Bayek outside the bandit hideout

Bayek traveled to the bandit hideout west of Memphis to locate the first artifact. He eliminated the bandits inside the hideout and retrieved the artifact, which was a scaled replica of the Meidum Pyramid.

Meidum Pyramid Artifact
A scaled replica of the Meidum Pyramid. This is one of the artifacts. Merkes believes this will help reveal the location of Sneferu's vault.

Bayek outside the Shining Pyramid

• Bayek: This must be the artefact the bandits stole from Merkes. Strange thing.

Bayek left the hideout and journeyed to the Shining Pyramid. He met Merkes at his camp.

• Merkes: Do you have both artifacts yet? I'm still trying to decode some of Manetho's writings, but I'm sure we're close!

With Senu's help, Bayek located the opening high up in the pyramid. He entered and explored the tomb. He found a room containing various treasures and an ancient tablet. Inside one of the chests, he discovered the last artifact, a scaled replica of the Shining Pyramid.

Shining Pyramid Artifact
A scaled replica of the Shining Pyramid. This is one of the artifacts Merkes believes will help reveal the location of Sneferu's vault.

• Bayek: Hmm. This plain-looking artefact must have some hidden value if it was stored among such treasures. Time to find Merkes, and see what these three artifacts add up to.

Bayek exited the pyramid through an opening and returned to Merkes.

• Bayek: I've retrieved the other two artifacts.

Bayek and Merkes with the three artifacts

• Merkes: Ah hah! This confirms my theory! By Ra! That's it! The artifacts form a diagram, but a part is missing. There's no way to connect them. But there's a passage in the Aegyptiaca that says, "The path is clear atop the Shining tip." And the inscriptions on this artifact must mean the pyramidion on top of Sneferu's tomb, the Shining Pyramid. I'm sure the key to the mystery is up there. Why don't you just run up and take a look?
• Bayek: What are we looking for, at the end of this?
• Merke: The priceless treasures of Sneferu have been lost to the ages. We will be heroes when we recover them and bring them out into the light of day.
• Bayek: I'm no grave robber.
• Merke: No, no, no, of course not. I promise you this will not disturb anyone's rest in the Field of Reeds.
• Bayek: Hmm, I will climb up and see what I can find.

Bayek received the Bent Pyramid artifact from Merkes.

Bent Pyramid Artifact
A scaled replica of the Bent Pyramid. This is one of the artifacts Merkes believes will help reveal the location of Sneferu's vault.

Bayek climbed up the Shining Pyramid and discovered strange slots at the tip of the structure.

• Bayek: The top of the Tomb of Sneferu. There are strange slots here. Hmm. Maybe if I...

Bayek inserting the three artifacts in the slots

Bayek inserted the three artifacts into the respective slots.

• Bayek: These three artifacts fit perfectly into the slots of the capstone. It's a diagram... From here at the Shining Pyramid, it seems to indicate those ruins out east, That's where we will find the vault.

Bayek climbed down the pyramid to speak to Merkes.

• Merkes: And? What did you see? Was it as I said? Don't keep me in suspense. Did you find anything?
• Bayek: Quite the view. The markers fit into place upon the capstone, and create a complete diagram.
• Merkes: You are remarkable! And, does it explain the riddle in the histories? About where to find the vault?
• Bayek: Mm-hmm. I suspect it meant something to the east of us. I could make out what looks like a ruined temple, now.
• Merkes: Follow me! I'll get us there!
• Bayek: Do not rush into trouble again.
• Merkes: With you at my side? Never!

Bayek and Merkes climbed onto camels and rode to their destination.

• Bayek: How did you cross paths with the bandits, earlier?
• Merkes: Hmmm? Oh, I enlisted their help to find the missing artifacts.
• Bayek: What? You mean you hired them?
• Merkes: Well, their leader, Bellosh, claimed he knew the desert better than anyone. I didn't think they would turn on me. I didn't know they were those kinds of bandits.
• Bayek: There are no other kinds of bandits. They all pillage and kill for coin.
• Merkes: Yes, they seemed rather intent on both, having stolen one artifact from me and then trying to kill me for the other.
• Bayek: You are a hazard to yourself.
• Merkes: I've been told that before.

Bayek and Merkes at the ruins

They arrived at the ruins.

• Merkes: Here we are! The entrance will be hidden, of course. By Ra, I wonder what we'll find.

They investigated a statue of Horus at once of the entrance.

• Bayek: These statues have survived the ages.
  They look exactly like what was described in the writings of Manetho... fascinating. But who do they mean?

They investigated a large bust.

• Bayek: What do you see, hmmm?
• Merkes: The remains of this statue, the watcher, is supposed to be looking towards the entrance. But where is it now?

Bayek discovered a soft ground.

• Bayek: The ground seems soft here. Let's see what is beneath the sand.

Bayek cleared away the sand and discovered a hidden vault.

• Merkes: One last deadly obstacle.

Bayek and Merkes heading deeper into the vault

Bayek destroyed the obstacle and jumped into the vault, followed by Merkes. They journeyed their way inwards.

• Merkes: I told you there was nothing to worry about. Come along. This way, Uh, you first. We are the first to set foot here in more than two thousand years! The treasures that must be here...

Bayek encountered and eliminated several snakes.

• Merkes: Nothing to worry about. You did exactly as I would have told you, if you hadn't acted so quickly. I hope we aren't angering Wadjet.

Bayek and Merkes reaching the mystery vault

Bayek and Merkes reached the vault and discovered a pile of scrolls and a pyramidion.

• Merkes: Oh, oh my! By Ra... all that is divine beauty. Do your eyes see what mine see?
• Bayek: This room has been perfectly preserved.
• Merkes: Untouched since Sneferu's reign!

Bayek observed the pyramidion.

• Bayek: A perfectly preserved pyramidion. A relic of the gods, and the origin of all good things. The first rays of Ra would fall upon it, and light the way for the Bennu bird, who flew over the waters of Nun.

Bayek spoke with Merkes who was examining a desk covered in scrolls.

• Bayek: Is this it? It is mostly filled with old scrolls... not much gold.
• Merkes: Such treasure! Look at all this history! Kition and Heraclides will be in awe. I'll be famous. We'll be famous!
• Bayek: Glad I could help.
• Merkes: Once I've catalogued what we've discovered, I'll cart it back to the Library of Alexandria so it can be studied and preserved for the ages.

Once Bayek was rewarded for his troubles, he spoke with Merkes again a handful of times before leaving the vault.

• Merkes: Once it is safely in the Library, it will be protected from time and the elements.
  Hmm. I should send for Roussis to help me cart all of these documents back to Alexandria.
  So many lost wonders contained within...
  How to get all this back to Alexandria?
  Now we can finally remember how Imhotep and Sneferu built the pyramids.

Outcome

Bayek helped the scholar Merkes to solve the mystery of Sneferu's pyramids.

Behind the scenes

This memory was initially included as a bonus quest in several special editions of Assassin's Creed: Origins, before later being made available for purchase from the Ubisoft Club for 40 Units.

Gallery

• 
  Bayek witnessing Merkes being pursued by bandits
• 
  Bayek retrieving the artifact within the bandit camp
• 
  Bayek inside one of the puzzle room
• 
  Bayek solving the puzzle within the room
• 
  Bayek at the tomb chamber of Sneferu
• 
  Bayek climbing up the pyramid
• 
  Bayek and Merkes preparing to head off to the temple
• 
  Bayek and Merkes heading off to the vault location
• 
  Bayek uncovering the vault's entrance
• 
  Bayek and Merkes reflecting on their discovery

References

• Assassin's Creed: Origins