Quest for the Chalice

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After receiving his orders from Al Mualim on the fortress of Alep, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was tasked to search for a powerful artifact that was in the possession of the Templars called the Chalice. After preparing his equipment, he began his quest, and started at the city of Damascus.

Damascus

A man's challenge

Altaïr: "Old man, I have a message for you: A cat's dream is filled with mice."

Man: "Not here, you fool! Ladies, you must excuse me!"

—Altaïr, upon meeting his contact in Damascus

Arriving at the city of Damascus, Altaïr located one of the assassin's rafiqs, who was selling clothes and rugs to the citizens of Damascus. Altaïr confronted him, and uttered out an irrelevant statement, which acted as the assassin's password. The man reprimanded Altaïr for his wrong timing, before leaving his small stand and returning to the bureau.

Inside the bureau, the rafiq began his tirade, stating that Altaïr acted ridiculously and stupidly upon their first meeting, and also reprimanded him for not showing any respect to those like him, which led him to doubt the assassin's abilities. He then gave Altaïr a task, a challenge for the assassin in order to gain the information he sought for. He has been tasked to assassinate one of their enemies by the large gate within the city. He further instructed him to meet him at the end of the street once he is done, and report his success.

After receiving his new orders, Altaïr made his way out of the bureau and into the city to begin his search for the man pointed out by the rafiq. After scouring the city thoroughly, Altaïr located the man he was tasked to kill, and assassinated him with his hidden blade. Leaving the area before the guards could catch up to him, Altaïr fled to the rooftops, where he met up with the rafiq. Impressed, the rafiq instructed him to meet up inside the bureau, to discuss Altaïr's initial mission.

Greed's end

Tamir: "My beautiful carpets! The Venetian Silverware! All gone!"

Altaïr: "Surely, you can buy them back...."

Tamir: "What....Who's there!?"

—Tamir and Altaïr's initial meeting

Within the bureau, Altaïr told the rafiq of his initial task to find the artifact known as the Chalice. The rafiq figured as much, for Altaïr was not the first man sent by Al Mualim to find the artifact. Rafiq told him of a merchant named Tamir who lived in Damascus, and also had connections with the Templars. He told him the location of his house, which lied somewhere in the district, but also warned him of the danger in invading his home, for it was heavily guarded. Altaïr suspected that there was a man who held information regarding a way in, to which the rafiq replied with glee that there was a man who knew of such way.

The rafiq told Altaïr of a man named Misbah, a merchant who had good ties with Tamir. He told him to locate Misbah and question him of a way in. Altaïr complies to this, and quickly leaves the bureau to scour the city for Misbah. After a thorough search, Altaïr manages to locate Misbah, who was taking a quick stroll around the city. Making his way from the rooftops to the ground, Altaïr confronts Misbah, who demanded for a way inside. Denying any knowledge, Altaïr interrogates him, forcing him to reveal what he knows.

As he did however, the city guards were alerted of the assassin's presence, and proceeded to apprehend him. Altaïr drew his sword in order to fight back against the guards. With the assassin fending off the guards, Misbah quickly fled the scenario and hid himself atop the rooftops. Dispatching the guards, Altaïr made his way to the rooftops, where he looked for Misbah. Arriving at the edge of a tall building, Altaïr located Misbah, who hid right above him. As he tried to cross a narrow beam, the structure fell apart, causing the roof and the beam to break and fall, leaving Misbah hanging from a rope. Altaïr saw an opportunity, and offered Misbah his assistance in exchange for information regarding a way in Tamir's house.

Misbah continued to deny any information regarding a way in. With his grip slipping further and further, Misbah was forced to reveal what he knows. He denied of a definite way in, but told him of the merchant's stock of oil, kept in barrels at the small terrace located at the top of his home. Misbah told him to light the barrels and lure Tamir out of his home. After revealing what he knew, he begged Altaïr for assistance, but the assassin refused to comply, leaving Misbah to his fate.

After learning of a way to get close to Tamir, Altaïr made his way to the merchant's home through the rooftops. Arriving at the small terrace atop the merchant's home, Altaïr located a small box of fire torches, much to his convenience. Using these torches, the assassin lit the merchant's house on fire, effectively luring Tamir out of his house.