The Head of the Snake

The Head of the Snake was a virtual representation of one of Basim Ibn Ishaq's genetic memories relived through the Animus.

Description

Basim met with Roshan to discuss their next steps for the Order of the Ancients.

Dialogue

After returning to his home to rest, Basim was plagued again by nightmares of the jinn.

• Basim: (ragged breath)

He woke up from his nightmare, finding Nehal by his side.

• Nehal: Easy, Basim. I am here.

Basim sat up and immediately stepped out of his bed.

• Nehal: Basim, tamahhal (slow down).
• Basim: I cannot keep them waiting.

Nehal checking on Basim's troubled dreams

• Nehal: Are they aware, your companions, that their hunter is hunted in his sleep?
• Basim: If it were in my sleep alone I could bear it. But it followed when I fled Anbar. Now it stalks me when I slay those I hunt.
• Nehal: The ones from the palace... in the masks.
• Basim: Four are dead at my hand. The last, the Head of the Snake, will join them soon.

Basim headed to the door, only for Nehal to block his path.

• Nehal: Why slit its throat when you could loosen its tongue?
• Basim: What? Why would I...

Nehal tried to persuade Basim to spare and question the Order member instead

• Nehal: The jinni only struck in sleep. It never dogged you by the day until you reached into that chest. The masked ones prized what lay within, the ancient object that woke at your touch. They may hold more answers living than dead!
• Basim: I hunt my enenmies, I do not break bread with them. I took an Oath, Nehal.
• Nehal: How can you hunt when you are hounded? If you could walk the dark unburdened, you could better serve the light.
• Basim: I stay my blade from the flesh of the innocent. Not from the Order of the Ancients!
• Nehal: If you will not ask your foes, then at least ask your friends what slept in that chest... and why they sought it.

Basim refused to hear more and stepped out of the house.

• Basim: My companions wait for me at the Harbiyah Bureau. Clear your mind, Basim. Focus on the task before you.

Roshan awaits Basim in the bureau

Basim left Anbar and returned to Baghdad, entering the Harbiyah bureau. There, he found Roshan already present.

• Roshan: You took your time.
• Basim: Did you wait up, Master?
• Roshan: I wait for no man. You look tired.
• Basim: Nothing a little adventure won't fix. What news?
• Roshan: Ali thinks the time is right to attack the palace. The 'Uyun (spies) are distracted and the people divided.
• Basim: Divided how?

Roshan pointed to a map of Baghdad on the table.

• Roshan: Some are claiming the new Caliph stole the throne from Abu 'Abdallah, son of Al-Mutawakkil. What do you know of him?

Basim suggest using the artifact against their enemies

• Basim: Little. He was there at the palace, the night his father... The night I reached into that chest. Master, have we learned anything more about the object within?
• Roshan: Why do you ask?
• Basim: It seems a shame we know so little about something the Order prized so much. Should we not seek to know our enemies better, the better to defeat them?

Fuladh entered the bureau.

• Fuladh: Marhaban (Welcome), Basim! Have I interrupted?
• Roshan: No. We must turn to the task at hand.

The three discuss the targets, Qabiha, Arib and Tahir

• Fuladh: Of course, Abu 'Abdallah. Rebekah tells me you have met his mother, Qabiha?

Basim took out a book detailing the information he collected, including portraits of the suspects.

• Basim: I did. I think she could be first among our foes. She, or Arib the Poet, or Muhammad the Governor. All three had ties to our enemies.
• Fuladh: Muhammad ibn Tahir... His cousins govern the land on which Alamut sits.
• Roshan: Their protection is all that shields us from our enemies.

Basim vows to unmask the Snake and learn their objectives

• Basim: I cut our enemy's legs beneath them, Master. Let me strike while their stumps are bloody. I will unmask them and learn their intent.
• Fuladh: Basim is right. We must act swiftly.

Roshan nodded in agreement with both of them.

• Roshan: Go to the Round City. Investigate all three, but take no further action. Report back to me atop the House of the Privy Seal.

Basim nodded and prepared to leave. Before he left, he spoke to Fuladh.

• Basim: Fuladh, my finder of facts, my fielder of questions.
• Fuladh: How can I be of help, Basim?

Ask about the poetess AribAsk about the concubine QabihaAsk about Governor MuhammadAsk about the Round CityThat is all.

• Basim: Tell me about Arib. Her words were as scripture to members of the Order.
• Fuladh: A gifted artist and poetess, Arib won her freedom through her skill. Tabid tells me she keeps a luxurious home in the Round City. Anything else?

• Basim: What do you know of Qabiha? She had ties to the Treasurer.
• Fuladh: Born to slavery, Qabiha rose to become Al-Mutawakkil's favorite concubine in the Harem. Yet her son was not made Caliph, leaving her future uncertain. Anything else?

• Basim: Tell me about the Governor. I saw him give orders to Wasif Al-Turki.
• Fuladh: Muhammad is one of the Tahirids, powerful viceroys of the Caliphs in Persia. He governs all Baghdad from his seat at the Courts. Anything else?

• Basim: Where can I find our suspects?
• Fuladh: All three live within the glorious Round City, the power center of the Abbasid Caliphate. Anything else?

• Basim: Shukran (Thank you), Fuladh.

Having obtained deeper details on his mission, Basim left the bureau.

• Basim: Poet, politician, and concubine. I will soon know which one wears the mask.

Outcome

Basim is tasked with investigating the three people suspected to be the head of the Order: poetess Arib Al-Ma'muniyya, Governor Muhammad ibn Tahir and concubine Qabiha.

Gallery

• 
  Basim wakes up from his nightmare
• 
  Basim determined to hunt down the last member of the Order
• 
  Nehal implores Basim to seek answers from his fellow Hidden Ones
• 
  A map of Baghdad
• 
  Fuladh arrives to join Basim and Roshan
• 
  Basim being brief by Fuladh about his targets

References

• Assassin's Creed: Mirage