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====Enemies====
====Enemies====
;???????????
;Viper Swordsman
Some desert robbers use vicious tactics, coating their weapons with deadly poison to ensure any wound is fatal.
Some desert robbers use vicious tactics, coating their weapons with deadly poison to ensure any wound is fatal.


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"Listen well, young ones, to the tale of Zarqa al-Yamama, the blue-eyed seer of the Jadis.<br>She stood watch upon the southern plains, and it was said she could spy riders a week's journey away. Finally, her tribe's foes sought to outwit her by marching behind uprooted trees, though they were many days' ride away.<br>But Zarqa's blue eyes perceived their ruse and she cried a warning to her people.<br>Yet her tribe - fearing madness - heeded her not. When the enemy's host fell upon them, every one of Zarqa's people was struck dead.<br> At last, they seized Zarqa herself and crucified her beneath the desert sun tearing from her those eyes that had been her gift.<br>So remember - a divine gift bears its own burden, and to ignore the seer's warning is to invite doom beyond reckoning."
"Listen well, young ones, to the tale of Zarqa al-Yamama, the blue-eyed seer of the Jadis.<br>She stood watch upon the southern plains, and it was said she could spy riders a week's journey away. Finally, her tribe's foes sought to outwit her by marching behind uprooted trees, though they were many days' ride away.<br>But Zarqa's blue eyes perceived their ruse and she cried a warning to her people.<br>Yet her tribe - fearing madness - heeded her not. When the enemy's host fell upon them, every one of Zarqa's people was struck dead.<br> At last, they seized Zarqa herself and crucified her beneath the desert sun tearing from her those eyes that had been her gift.<br>So remember - a divine gift bears its own burden, and to ignore the seer's warning is to invite doom beyond reckoning."


;???????????
;Tale from Hegra
"Now of all the jinn, the ifrit are the most perilous.<br>Their true abode lies in a realm beyond our own.<br>Yet they enter this world too, lurking amid ancient ruins... like the ones right here.<br>They are merciless, wicked creatures, fashioned from searing flame who bear the blood-debt of vengeance and unleash wrath in its purest, most terrible form.<br>I have heard tell of a mighty sorcerer whose hubris led him to summon an ifrit.<br>By all accounts, he succeeded in calling it forth - but he failed utterly to command it... His end was most grim."
"Now of all the jinn, the ifrit are the most perilous.<br>Their true abode lies in a realm beyond our own.<br>Yet they enter this world too, lurking amid ancient ruins... like the ones right here.<br>They are merciless, wicked creatures, fashioned from searing flame who bear the blood-debt of vengeance and unleash wrath in its purest, most terrible form.<br>I have heard tell of a mighty sorcerer whose hubris led him to summon an ifrit.<br>By all accounts, he succeeded in calling it forth - but he failed utterly to command it... His end was most grim."


;???????????
;The Savant Pilgrim
"I tell you, the white shark-fish is but a jest beside the dandan - surely the mightiest beast in all the sea.<br>It devours great creatures whole - and some say a single dandan once swallowed an entire ship with all its crew!<br>Although I know of one fisherman who swears that this fish perishes at the taste of human flesh or even at the sound of a human's cry.<br>But even if this is true, it remains a wondrous creature - they say its fat runs bright as gold and sweeter than honey.<br>Annoint yourself with it, they say, and you can even endure the deepest depths of the sea!"
"I tell you, the white shark-fish is but a jest beside the dandan - surely the mightiest beast in all the sea.<br>It devours great creatures whole - and some say a single dandan once swallowed an entire ship with all its crew!<br>Although I know of one fisherman who swears that this fish perishes at the taste of human flesh or even at the sound of a human's cry.<br>But even if this is true, it remains a wondrous creature - they say its fat runs bright as gold and sweeter than honey.<br>Annoint yourself with it, they say, and you can even endure the deepest depths of the sea!"


;???????????
;Warning of the Desert
"That is nothing, brothers.<br>I have heard tell of a wondrous city far to the south, called Ubar by the desert folk.<br>They say it was once a place of soaring pillars and date-filled gardens, richer than any oasis beneath the sun.<br>Caravans that braved the surrounding desert spoke of gleaming palaces of red-hued stone and wells that never ran dry.<br>Yet one day the sands rose as though by God's command and swallowed Ubar whole, leaving nothing but an endless sea of dunes.<br>Some say her people drew down God's wrath by their pride.<br>For this reason, no man who ventures there now finds trace of palace or pillar - only the empty sands."
"That is nothing, brothers.<br>I have heard tell of a wondrous city far to the south, called Ubar by the desert folk.<br>They say it was once a place of soaring pillars and date-filled gardens, richer than any oasis beneath the sun.<br>Caravans that braved the surrounding desert spoke of gleaming palaces of red-hued stone and wells that never ran dry.<br>Yet one day the sands rose as though by God's command and swallowed Ubar whole, leaving nothing but an endless sea of dunes.<br>Some say her people drew down God's wrath by their pride.<br>For this reason, no man who ventures there now finds trace of palace or pillar - only the empty sands."


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The Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Mada'in Salih) is the first World Heritage property to be inscribed in Saudi Arabia on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2008.
The Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Mada'in Salih) is the first World Heritage property to be inscribed in Saudi Arabia on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2008.


;?????????????????
;Memory of an Old Civilization
Described as the “open-air library" of AlUla, the site of Ikmah Mountain offers an extraordinary dive into the past through several hundred inscriptions engraved and carved in relief on the rock faces. Most are in Dadanitic language and estimated to have been written between 500-300 BCE. There are many kinds of messages - ritual formulas, including the still mysterious "zll" ceremony, and religious dedications, many of which mention offerings to the Lihyanite god, Dhu Ghaybah, asking for his protection for travel. There are also testimonies on agriculture, including requests for blessings and strong rains. Even if much remains mysterious, the inscriptions are rare testimonies of the life and beliefs of local populations as well as people passing through. While these inscriptions are almost all in Dadanitic, there are inscriptions elsewhere in AlUla in other ancient languages: Aramaic, Thamudic, Sabaic, Minaic, Nabataean, Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Arabic - its script developing from Nabataean. As writing is a vital milestone in the development of mankind, marking the transition from pre-history to history, the significance of Ikmah Mountain heritage transcends its national and regional boundaries to the level of global importance.
Described as the “open-air library" of AlUla, the site of Ikmah Mountain offers an extraordinary dive into the past through several hundred inscriptions engraved and carved in relief on the rock faces. Most are in Dadanitic language and estimated to have been written between 500-300 BCE. There are many kinds of messages - ritual formulas, including the still mysterious "zll" ceremony, and religious dedications, many of which mention offerings to the Lihyanite god, Dhu Ghaybah, asking for his protection for travel. There are also testimonies on agriculture, including requests for blessings and strong rains. Even if much remains mysterious, the inscriptions are rare testimonies of the life and beliefs of local populations as well as people passing through. While these inscriptions are almost all in Dadanitic, there are inscriptions elsewhere in AlUla in other ancient languages: Aramaic, Thamudic, Sabaic, Minaic, Nabataean, Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Arabic - its script developing from Nabataean. As writing is a vital milestone in the development of mankind, marking the transition from pre-history to history, the significance of Ikmah Mountain heritage transcends its national and regional boundaries to the level of global importance.


In recognition of this significance, the 'Jabal Ikmah' site was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register in 2023.
In recognition of this significance, the 'Jabal Ikmah' site was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register in 2023.


;?????????????????
;Life of a Merchant
Located on a strategic route of travel - the Incense Route up the western side of the Arabian Peninsula - the AlUla Valley was a mandatory stop for traders. In the heart of this arid environment, the oasis here offered a well-deserved place to rest alongside a vital source of water. For the travelers, and for the animals of the caravans, the food grown or produced on site as well as the water extracted from the many wells dug in the area (and later other water management systems) allowed them to regain their strength and resupply food and drink stores for the long and arduous journey that continued in one direction or the other. It was also an opportunity to sleep in safety, as bandit attacks were not uncommon along the route and setting up camp was not always safe. In the surely difficult daily life of itinerant merchants, AlUla was certainly a most appreciated haven of peace.
Located on a strategic route of travel - the Incense Route up the western side of the Arabian Peninsula - the AlUla Valley was a mandatory stop for traders. In the heart of this arid environment, the oasis here offered a well-deserved place to rest alongside a vital source of water. For the travelers, and for the animals of the caravans, the food grown or produced on site as well as the water extracted from the many wells dug in the area (and later other water management systems) allowed them to regain their strength and resupply food and drink stores for the long and arduous journey that continued in one direction or the other. It was also an opportunity to sleep in safety, as bandit attacks were not uncommon along the route and setting up camp was not always safe. In the surely difficult daily life of itinerant merchants, AlUla was certainly a most appreciated haven of peace.


;?????????????????
;The Ones that Defied Time
Known to archaeologists as the IGN 110, the Tomb of Hayyan ibn Kuza is one of the Nabataean masterpieces of Hegra. At 21 meters high, it is one of the largest tombs in the area, but above all, it has the distinction of standing alone, isolated from the others. Clearly visible from the city, it must have been one of the most prestigious and envied tombs of its day! Unfortunately,  it was not completed for an unknown reason. It is precisely this unfinished character that makes it one of the essential sources for understanding the making of these tombs, from the work to clear the facade to the carving from top to bottom and the digging of the burial chambers. It is an extraordinary testimony to Nabataean funerary art, here magnified by the sunsets which give it a wonderful reflected rosy color.
Known to archaeologists as the IGN 110, the Tomb of Hayyan ibn Kuza is one of the Nabataean masterpieces of Hegra. At 21 meters high, it is one of the largest tombs in the area, but above all, it has the distinction of standing alone, isolated from the others. Clearly visible from the city, it must have been one of the most prestigious and envied tombs of its day! Unfortunately,  it was not completed for an unknown reason. It is precisely this unfinished character that makes it one of the essential sources for understanding the making of these tombs, from the work to clear the facade to the carving from top to bottom and the digging of the burial chambers. It is an extraordinary testimony to Nabataean funerary art, here magnified by the sunsets which give it a wonderful reflected rosy color.


;?????????????????
;City of the Dead
Al-Banat Mountain is one of the jewels of Nabataean Hegra: it is a necropolis of 29 tombs carved in one long outcrop during the first century CE. Clearly visible from the city, the site was apparently very popular with local notables. Archaeologists have been able to establish a  chronological sequence of architectural styles and types of tombs. Among the noteworthy sculptural elements, the triangular pediments of the tombs present animals, including eagles snakes and fish. The terrible Medusa, a monster of Greek mythology, also appears, depicted with snakes for hair that, according to legend, transformed those who dared to meet her eyes into stone.
Al-Banat Mountain is one of the jewels of Nabataean Hegra: it is a necropolis of 29 tombs carved in one long outcrop during the first century CE. Clearly visible from the city, the site was apparently very popular with local notables. Archaeologists have been able to establish a  chronological sequence of architectural styles and types of tombs. Among the noteworthy sculptural elements, the triangular pediments of the tombs present animals, including eagles snakes and fish. The terrible Medusa, a monster of Greek mythology, also appears, depicted with snakes for hair that, according to legend, transformed those who dared to meet her eyes into stone.


;?????????????????
;Rites of Passage
Ithlib Mountain contained sacred and functional spaces for the Nabataeans. There are a number of niches carved into the rock faces, to house betyls (from the Semitic "Beit-il", divine dwelling), rectangular stones symbolizing Nabataean deities. Most of the betyls are aniconic, without faces or defined features. Meetings, of which little is known, were held in a large room dug out from the rock called a triclinium ("three benches" in Latin), intended for banquets and ritual feasting. In Arabic, this is now referred to as the diwan. Water in Ithlib was supplied by an ingenious system of channels, cisterns and reservoirs fed by rainwater.
Ithlib Mountain contained sacred and functional spaces for the Nabataeans. There are a number of niches carved into the rock faces, to house betyls (from the Semitic "Beit-il", divine dwelling), rectangular stones symbolizing Nabataean deities. Most of the betyls are aniconic, without faces or defined features. Meetings, of which little is known, were held in a large room dug out from the rock called a triclinium ("three benches" in Latin), intended for banquets and ritual feasting. In Arabic, this is now referred to as the diwan. Water in Ithlib was supplied by an ingenious system of channels, cisterns and reservoirs fed by rainwater.


;?????????????????
;Dadan & Nabatean civilization
Even today, it is challenging to clearly identify the chronology of the different authorities that dominated the AlUla region during the first millennium BCE. First, there was the Kingdom of Dadan, which began developing a settlement center already established at Dadan. Around 500 or 400 BCE, the Kingdom of Lihyan seems to have come to power, further aggrandizing Dadan as its capital. Both kingdoms took advantage of the exceptional location on the incense road to connect southern Arabia to the Levant, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. The Lihyanites also developed a remarkable culture. In addition to the local Dadanitic script used to engrave and carve hundreds of inscriptions in stone across the area, impressive colossal statues were carved in a local sculptural style. It is uncertain when and how the Nabataean Kingdom, whose capital was at Petra located in present-day Jordan, took control of the AlUla region, but it established its regional authority at Hegra, located about 20 km north of Dadan, by the middle of the 1st century BCE Nabataean wealth also relied on long-distance trade, and its culture adopted and adapted various external influences, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece. Its craftsmen carved the magnificent tombs from the sandstone outcrops of Hegra. Although the Nabataean Kingdom was annexed by the Roman Empire in 106 CE, Nabataean culture thrived for centuries after.
Even today, it is challenging to clearly identify the chronology of the different authorities that dominated the AlUla region during the first millennium BCE. First, there was the Kingdom of Dadan, which began developing a settlement center already established at Dadan. Around 500 or 400 BCE, the Kingdom of Lihyan seems to have come to power, further aggrandizing Dadan as its capital. Both kingdoms took advantage of the exceptional location on the incense road to connect southern Arabia to the Levant, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. The Lihyanites also developed a remarkable culture. In addition to the local Dadanitic script used to engrave and carve hundreds of inscriptions in stone across the area, impressive colossal statues were carved in a local sculptural style. It is uncertain when and how the Nabataean Kingdom, whose capital was at Petra located in present-day Jordan, took control of the AlUla region, but it established its regional authority at Hegra, located about 20 km north of Dadan, by the middle of the 1st century BCE Nabataean wealth also relied on long-distance trade, and its culture adopted and adapted various external influences, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece. Its craftsmen carved the magnificent tombs from the sandstone outcrops of Hegra. Although the Nabataean Kingdom was annexed by the Roman Empire in 106 CE, Nabataean culture thrived for centuries after.


;?????????????????
;Remembrance of the Forgotten
In 60 or 61 CE, a certain Hinat had the following message engraved on the facade of the tomb she commissioned among those in this necropolis: "This is the tomb that Hinat, daughter of Wahbu, dug for herself, her children and her descendants, forever. No one has the right to sell it, to pledge it or to draw up a lease for this tomb. And whoever acts otherwise will see his share go to his rightful heir. In the twenty-first year of King Maliku, king of the Nabataeans." Nearly 2000 years later, archaeologists have been able to establish that several dozen bodies were placed in this tomb, including one that may be Hinat herself, a woman of 40 to 50 years old.
In 60 or 61 CE, a certain Hinat had the following message engraved on the facade of the tomb she commissioned among those in this necropolis: "This is the tomb that Hinat, daughter of Wahbu, dug for herself, her children and her descendants, forever. No one has the right to sell it, to pledge it or to draw up a lease for this tomb. And whoever acts otherwise will see his share go to his rightful heir. In the twenty-first year of King Maliku, king of the Nabataeans." Nearly 2000 years later, archaeologists have been able to establish that several dozen bodies were placed in this tomb, including one that may be Hinat herself, a woman of 40 to 50 years old.


Revision as of 05:18, 19 November 2025

My quarternary sandbox.

ASoE

Assassin's Creed: Mirage – A Soar of Eagles 1
Assassin's Creed: Mirage – A Soar of Eagles 2
Assassin's Creed: Mirage – A Soar of Eagles 3

Glyphs

In the Beginning

Five of these mythic scenes share a core similarity. Pick them out and you'll begin to see. [Pictures 3,5,6,7,9]

Passcode found 2 4 5 6 8

Sixty-Four Squares
  • Subject 16: The past: a vast web of connections and interconnections, all ruled by chance. Or is it?
[circular puzzle] Queen Elizabeth I of England 1559 ID: Piece of Eden 2 - Apple [circular puzzle] Emperor Napoleon I of France 1812 ID: Piece of Eden 1 - Apple [circular puzzle] George Washington United States 1781 ID: Piece of Eden 3 - Apple Passcode found 1 0 3 5 2

Descendants
  • Subject 16: Power doesn't die. It's passed on.
He carried it with him. Find his inheritance. [image, locate Piece of Eden 3] Franklin Delano Roosevelt strategic meeting, 1944 [image, locate Piece of Eden 1] Houdini beginning the Chinese water torture cell escape, 1913 [image, locate Piece of Eden 2] Gandhi during the Salt March, 1930 Passcode found 1 4 5 2 3

Infinite Knowledge
  • Subject 16: It's getting easier and easier to hack into Abstergo's mainframe. It's like I know what data I'm looking for. Like I've already lived it.
Its open mouth delivers the kiss of death [image, locate hidden image in the gun's barrel] Burning Viet Cong base camp, My Tho, Vietnam, 1968 Leading the young to their end. [image, locate hidden image in helmet of crouching soldier] Members of the 2nd Infantry Division advance under machine gun fire into the outskirts of Brest, France, 1944 The flames from its throat poke out their eyes [image, locate ID: Piece of Eden 4 - Apple on tapestry] Union troops in formation. Beaufort, South Carolina, 1862. This monster did not come from man. [image, locate hidden image in the gun's barrel] The first pictorial representation of a gun, 900 Passcode found 7 2 1 1 4

Instruments of Power
  • Subject 16: You see? Do you see what's going on? Not yet. But you will.
The power they wielded cut down their enemies. [Pictures 2, 3, 6, 8, 9] ID: Piece of Eden 25 - Sword In their hands, the wise lean on a great force. [Pictures 3, 6, 8, 9, 10] ID: Piece of Eden 34 - Staff Passcode Found 8 1 4 9 2

Brothers
  • Subject 16: They were mostly heroes. But see, how the lineage is disrupted. The web of history traps the good, and the evil take what is not theirs!
[circular puzzle] And Satan said unto Cain: swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die. [circular puzzle] And all these things were done in secret. [circular puzzle] And Cain said: truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret. [circular puzzle] Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness.
  • Subject 16: Behold: The mark of Cain!
[The four pictures and quotes, now with a templar insignia above them] - . -- .--. .-.. .- .-. - . -..- - ... .- -.. .- .--. - . -.. -... -.-- -- .-. .-.-.- ... -- .. - .... (TEMPLARTSADAPTEDBYMR.SMITH) Passcode Found 5 2 9 3 1

"Keep On Seeking, And You Will Find"
First plucked from a tree guarded by a snake, its powers perform miracles. Then, worn across the ages, torn asunder, hidden under a sea of red, reconstruct the timeline. [Pictures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6] [SPQR Templar symbol] [Image of crucifixion, locate ID: Piece of Eden 66 - Shroud] Passcode Found 1 0 1 5 2

Martyrs
[Picture, locate staff: Piece of Eden 34] Czar Nicholas II, Russia [Picture, locate sword: Piece of Eden 25] Joan of Arc, France [Map of europe, picture of Joan of Arc on France, Nicholas II and Rasputin on different sections of Russia, fire symbol on north turkey] [Drag fire to joan] They burned Joan alive. [image of burning Jeanne] They took it. [Drag Rasputin to Nicholas] Raputin took it to Tunguska. [Revolution image with templar symbol overlayed on it]
  • Subject 16: Without the staff, the Czar was powerless. He could no longer control his subjects... Revolution! Revolution!
Passcode Found 6 8 1 8 5

Hat-Trick
  • Subject 16: Three thefts. Hidden by the murders. People only see what they're trained to see. What the Organization wants them to see.
They made it look like an accident. [image, find apple in pocket] Houdini and Bess, 1915 [image] Houdini's grave. RIP: October 31, 1926. He almost beat them. [image, find apple on chest] Gandhi, 1946 [image] Gandhi's funeral procession. RIP: January 30, 1948. Dallas (Archive) [access file] Access denied
  • Subject 16: The wolves are out hunting. Where, oh where, has Jack gone?
[Bunch of images, password 312] [Dallas
TX letterhead (?)] OPERATION: New Frontier HQ has given the go-ahead to extract the resource. Negotiations are over. F. is planning to give the vote to everyone. Reason just doesn't work with someone like that. I'll send you the driver. We've trained him with PE2 in our labs, he shouldn't be any trouble. The motorcade route is marked below. Once the target has been downed, either by Oswald or Z., use PE1 to stage a distraction. Make some kind of phantom appear around this slope I've marked with an X. Freak people out. The driver will grab PE3 in the confusion. [IHSV symbol] [Dallas image] Passcode Found 1 8 9 1 6

Apollo
  • Subject 16: Something was up there. Something abandoned long ago.
[image of moon] Find the eagle. [Moon closeup, find lunar lander module] [zoomed on lander] [odd puzzle] With these formidable weapons, the adversaries of freedom plan to consolidate their terrotory, to exploit, to control, and finally to destroy.
- JFK - Apollo 11 photograph released to the public [image, find apple near astronaut's foot ID: Piece of Eden 5 - Apple]
  • Subject 16: With Jack deep underground, it was easy.
Passcode Found 1 0 3 5 2

The Inventor
  • Subject 16: He wanted to stop the cycle, to tell the secret. Shit. I've got to keep thinking through the headaches.
[From Nikola Tesla letterhead] The economic transmission of power without wires is of all-surpassing importance to man. By its means he will gain complete mastery of the air, the sea and the desert. It will enable him to dispense with the necessity of mining, pumping, transporting and burning fuel, and to do away with innumerable causes of sinful waste. It will make the living glorious sun his obedient, toiling slave. It will bring peace and harmony to earth. [Nikola Tesla signature] [Image of world with 14 lightbulbs] [Light them up and an image of wardenclyffe appears] [Image of wardenclyffe, locate hidden image beneath above the door] Nikola Tesla's Wardenclyffe Tower under construction, c. 1902
  • Subject 16: He found it in Croatia.
[image, locate Piece of Eden 4 on his lap.] Nikola Tesla. c.1900
  • Subject 16: They would find it in his lab.
Passcode Found 6 1 9 0 2

Titans of Industry
Edison (Archive) [access file] Access denied [Bunch of images, password 240] [Edison letterhead] Dear Mr. Morgan: A serious matter has come to my attention. Nikola Tesla plans to use PE4 to create an information network across the entire world. And if that weren't bad enough, he intends to allow access to it for free! Imagine the masses spreading knowledge amongst themselves instantaneously. That would make everything we intend to do much more difficult. You must cut all funds for his experimetns at once! In case you get cold feet, I'll have you know he wants to make electricity free as well, thereby putting us out of business. I've already begun slandering Tesla in the press. Just reallocate his funding, and I'll take care of PE4 myself. Sincerely yours, [Thomas Edson signature] Edison, creator of DC electricity, accuses Tesla's AC current of electrocution! J.P. Morgan revokes funding for Tesla's Wardenclyfe Project! Edison creates "electric chair" to prove danger of AC current! [Image of world with 14 lit lightbulbs] [Destroy them] Edison proves danger of AC current by electrocuting circus elephant on camera! [video clip]
  • Subject 16: He wanted everyone to know the secret. To set us all free. They used it to drive him insane.
[Image of Mark Twain with tesla's apple. Ford (Archive) [access file] Access denied [Bunch of images] [Ford letterhead] Dear Mr. Edison, I wanted to thank you for letting me make use of PE4 all these years. Among several things, I was able to convince the workers I was raising their pay to $5 a day, when, in fact, I gave them a pay cut. But, I had to let PE4 go. As per instructions, I've shipped it to Europe. H. has it, so I assume the war will begin as soon as he can take over. We'll let him have his fun (Lord knows, that kind of purge will be good for Europe) and then end it with a bang, as planned. Out of the chaos of war a new order will emerge! I've enclosed a picture from Florida of you, me and Firestone. We should attempt to spend more time on the golf course this summer. Yours, [Henry Ford signature] [picture] Passcode Found 6 1 9 0 2

"I Am Become Death, The Destroyer of Worlds"
[bunch of images] [Abstergo Corporation letterhead] SUBJECT: Test Authorization There comes a time in the life of every experiment when we must test our results outside, in the world. I do not relish a successful outcome, but one is essential if we are to begin the foundations of a new world order. Global security and prosperity depend on a steady hand guiding the populace, a hand that will not falter under the weight of conscience. Give O. the authorization. I believe that history will vindicate us in the end. [IHSV insignia] [red button] [click it] [atomic bomb video clip] [smoke, find code 71645] Passcode Found 7 1 6 4 5

Bloodlines
  • Subject 16: I don't know what's happening to me. I've been in the machine, they keep putting me back in. And I am losing control. It's all blurring together. I'm holding a rifle, Gettysburg is in the distance, I just stabbed a man, and there's blood on my waistcoat. I'm at the opera, the soprano is so beautiful. I'm in bed with her, she cries as I fuck her. I'm speaking at the Forum, no one listens. I'm in the forest, hunting. The moon. I can see the moon. I'm here. I have to stay here until you understand! Listen. Why do we have these gifts, these abilities? Because it's in our blood.
The seeds were planted as two worlds became one. Behold, the Assassins, the children of two worlds! [pictures 1,4,6,7,10] [Assassin crest appears] Passcode Found 8 0 9 4 5

Guardians
[circular puzzle] The death of all tyrants will set the people free. [World map with 8 targets spread out on it] [Hovering over them, reveals Assassin targets: John Wilkes Booth in the US; François Duvalier in Haiti; Francisco Pizarro in Peru; Mary I of England in England; Tomas de Torquemada in Spain; Cleopatra in Egypt; Rasputin and Joseph Stalin in Russia Passcode Found 2 3 4 1 4

The Cavalry
  • Subject 16: It happened in 1908. Uhh... Or was it 2008? 1708? I can't remember!
Nikola, We know what they have done to your lab, to your career. It may be too late to set things right, but you can help prevent something far worse. They have taken an object from the Czar, and are conducting experiments in Tunguska to figure out how to use it. Before they do, we must take it from them, or the world will be in danger. We do not ask you to risk your life, just that, when the time comes, you use your electricity to destroy the object. Regardless of your decision, know that we admire your work greatly and will bear you no ill will. We respect your freedom above all else. [Map of europe with many different place names. Hover over Tunguska without touching the others] [Staff of eden appears, drag it over to Tesla's picture] [video of an explosion] Passcode Found 8 1 1 2 6

The Bunker
WWII (Archive) [access file] Access denied [Bunch of images] [Abstergo Corporation letterhead] May 02, 1945 The war is over, and we are in control, as planned. But, a slight concern has arisen. I received word from our agents in Berlin. H. was supposed to execute his double inside the bunker and meet C. at the rendezvous point with the Piece of Eden. It's been three days and he still hasn't reappeared. Something must have gone awry. Please send instructions. [IHSV insignia]
  • Subject 16: They engineered the war, they engineered the peace, but they weren't going to get away with it. Find our mark.
We watched the exit from above. He didn't see us coming. [Fuherbunker image, locate Assassin insignia] [destroyed bunker] Passcode Found 0 1 5 4 5

Synapses
  • Subject 16: It's getting harder. All the pain across time, it hurts too much. She sees me raise the knife. Only a little bit longer now.
Medical (Archive) [access file] Access denied
  • Subject 16: In the beginning. Genesis. Genesis.
[Bunch of images]
  • Subject 16: The Organization wanted the pieces. They'd tasted their power. But what were the pieces? Why did they work so well? It's as if our minds were made for them. Manufactured to obey.
[Biological frontier header] ISSUE 1, JANUARY, 2012 The scientific community is abuzz as the results of a new neurological study were made public today. What seemed to be big news in itself -- that Dr. Yijie Wu and Dr. P. J. Traunero had discovered a new neurotransmitter -- turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg. To quote Dr. Wu, "Using a prototype dMRI machine, we've been able to examine the contents of an actual neuron in living tissue. We've found a substance that appears to be an undiscovered neurotransmitter." "(Here's) where it gets crazy. To test our findings, we subjected the neuron to all kinds of stimuli, but we couldn't get it to release the transmitter. So, we've discovered an entire mechanism: there are vesicles filled with neurotransmitter lying dormant and corresponding ion channels, all for no discernable purpose." Expressing bafflement that natural selection would create an unnecessary neurotransmitter, Wu and Traunero searched for a predecessor in other species, with no luck. "Whatever this bugger is used for, it evolved in humans," Traunero told the press. [image of neurons, hover over synapses to light them up] Passcode Found 6 5 1 1 9

The Fourth Day
  • Subject 16: The end. Almost the end. It happened before. The Pieces were once part of a whole.
Once worshipped, now ignored, from a distance it watches and waits. [Pictures 2,3,5,8,9] [Astrological symbol for the sun appears] [Image of the sun, locate the earth] Passcode Found 6 9 1 8 5

Origin of the Species
  • Subject 16: A few still know the truth. It is around us in signs, and paintings, faces, documents, but... but we don't see it. See, we are... we are blind to our own creation.
[circular puzzle] It has been hidden, altered. Open your eyes. [image, locate the vitruvian man] Missing link (Archive) [access file] Access denied
  • Subject 16: I can't do it. Can I do it? Will it set me free from this endless ring of time? I feel the guillotine cut my throat, the bullet hit my chest, the water fill my lungs. The blood spills out thick and red. It's time to get out.
[Bunch of numbers, followed by "Nothing is true, everything is permitted", any password will work] [Abstergo Corporation letterhead] January 3, 1997 I'm writing in response to your concerns about the rising alarm in the press and the scientific community. The lack of a transitional ancestor from archaic hominids to modern mankind (Homo Sapiens) is no longer safe. As you wrote, we have to act. We can't let the truth get out, they'll find out about the artifacts. It will cause too much disruption, too much chaos. Bury our constructed skeletons near Tim White's expedition in Ethiopia. We'll give them their missing link. The birth of humanity. The truth makes me sick. [IHSV insignia]
  • Subject 16: Ah, the moon. I can see the stars. My mind is gone. Lucy, I can't wait any longer. I'm ready to go. She sees me raise the knife.
[image of hominid skeleton, hover over it with the Apple of Eden to transform it into a human skeleton] Passcode Found 0 0 0 0 0

Rifts

Masters all, they did not work, but ruled from on high.

[Paintings 1,3,4,8,10] border="3" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:650px; text-align:center; border-color:#cb0000"

Moving away from the sovereign and his crossed brow, the people take two steps forward. [Move king's pawn from E2 to E4]

[stylish templar cross, central above text] They became increasingly aware of our existence. We can no longer rely on the divine right of the aristocracy to maintain control. We need a new system, something much more subtle.

  • Animus: Quarantine zone.

[found red spot]

  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.

The individual intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. [Adam Smith signature] [Circular puzzle] By far the greatest part of those goods which are the objects of desire, are procured by labour; and they may be multiplied, not in one country alone, but in many, almost without any assignable limit, if we are disposed to bestow the labour necessary to obtain them. [Circular puzzle] A great empire has been established for the sole purpose of raising up a nation of customers. It cannot be very difficult to determine who have been the contrivers of this whole mercantile system; not the customers, we may believe, whose interest has been entirely neglected; but the producers, whose interest has been so carefully attended to. [Circular puzzle] A country that makes provision to increase in inhabitants, whose situation is good, and whose people have a genius adapted to trade, will never fail to be gainers in the balance, provided the labour and industry of their people be well managed and carefully directed. lo [x17] The workforce increases. Brother right beside brother. [Pawn F2 to F4]

  • Animus: Quarantine zone.
[found 2 red spots]
  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.

Missing -.. .- .-. -.- -. . ... ... .-.. --- ... - -.. -. ..- -- -... [DARKNESSLOSTDNUMB] [Abstergo file] Access denied Washington sits above the green, in 1944, keeping a cool head. Below the right 1, is the standard bearing 48. Behind, there is a company whose power is growing. [Bunch of images] [Locate Abstergo flag atop the left turret of the Mount Washington Resort] Correct coordinates found [Cipher puzzle] [Abstergo file] Access granted [Abstergo industries letterhead] July 22, 1944 Fellows, rulers, welcome. I deliver this speech to you as, several floors below us, a silent revolution begins. Ranny Olds and Henry Ford. As many of you know, these founders gave us the assembly line, the device we have used to control both (those indoctrinated into the worship of our money (?)) capitalists and workers (slaves (?)) alike. But I dream of a future in which such ugly chains will no longer be necessary. In 1910, our founders designed the Plan, it falls to us to see it through. But, what of the Communists, who intend to spread the bread so thin that everyone will starve? It is our duty to (neutralize (?)) save them and their followers. We must ensure that they continue to eat, to reproduce, to be productive members of society. That is our burden, to shepherd those beneath us through life, and we must embrace it, even if (force is required (?)) they themselves do not. H. and S. brought on the turmoil and fear necessary, now we must strike fast to ensure development continues in the proper directin. We will appear to concede ground to the workers, remember the successful ruse of Rockefeller's dimes, but soon there will be no ground we do not own. In 1937, we founded this Company, this enterprise, with a purpose. The time to nurture it to fruition is upon us. As a concession, a small piece is sacrificed for the greater good to come. [White pawn F4 takes black pawn at E5]

  • Animus: Quarantine zone.
[found 2 red spots]
  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.

These intelligent workers have no self-control. [Photographs 2,3,5,9, 10] Apples oranges pears cucumbers radishes carrots spinach dates wood juniper steel aluminum water rain shanty village town city country spring summer fall winter to walk to sing to dance to play to eat to smile to cry to laugh to kill to see to know death regret love [circular puzzle] It is possible to invent a single machine which can be used to compute any computable sequence. I'm not interested in developing a powerful brain. All I'm after is just a mediocre brain. Alan Turing set out to solve the plight of the workers: M = (Q, Γ, B, Σ, Δ, Q0, F) where Γ = {2, 3} Σ = {G}. [Pawn G2 to G3] Abstergo phone records
June, 1954 [amplitude puzzle]

  • N: V. It's N. I need Turing done today.
  • V: Aren't we jumping the gun? You've already had him arrested and sedated.
  • N: He still refuses to follow the directive. He's actually trying to invent one of those infernal things, instead of merely faking it for the newspapers. If he succeeds... you know what the mass unemployment generated by his robots will mean? Idle hands. We need to do this for the good of the people.
  • V: What about Keynes? He trusted Turing.
  • N: It's the greater good we're talking about here, V. Plus, a childless worker sends a bad message. We can't have them all stop reproducing.
  • V: Fine. It's your call.
  • N: I want it done like we did Harry Dexter White when he tried to warn the Soviets.
  • V: All right.
  • N: Be poetic about it. Maybe something from the Bible. Turing always was theatrical.
  • Animus: Quarantine zone.
[found 2 red spots, over image of Alan Turing in front of bus]
  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.

Democratic nations were built, each led by a powerful vizier (known today by a different name), who made a move to block the Templar advance. [Queen D1 to E2] [Abstergo file] Access denied From a bolt of electricity, governments fell. [bunch of pictures] [Locate lightning bolt at ITT Corporation former headquarters] Correct coordinates found [Cipher puzzle] [Abstergo file] Access granted [RESTRICTED HANDLING CLASSIFIED MESSAGE letterhead] SUBJECT: South America If we are to ensure the Company's success, Company agents must be able to move freely from country to country and maintain power within all of them. A global internatinal order must be implemented. Re: Argentina Tell the Capitalists that if they help ensure the Junta remain in power, we will pass all their corporate debt on to the Argentine people. That will ensure they crush any popular revolt. I want the trade unions destroyed if we are to move forward. Re: Chile The free market must be allowed to prevail. F's visit last year helped things along, but now all public companies need to be sold to the private sector, ideally on the cheap. The price of bread and other staples must rise. I want to ensure the people remain marred in poverty an unable to resist. Any traces of this plan should appear to implicate the U.S. government. The Company's involvement must remain hidden. For successful examples of a similar opening of the markets, look no further than the 1953 liberation of Iran and the 1954 liberation of Guatemala. [Henry Kissinger signature]

  • Animus: Quarantine zone.
[found 2 red spots, over following message bracketed by two red templar IHSV insignias: Wages should be (lowered to keep the middle class subservient to us (?) ) left to the fair and free competition of the market, and should never be controlled by the interference of (a popularly elected government(?) ) the legislature.]
  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.

  • Animus AI: Ninety percent of inputs missing. Outputs confused. Shut down. Shut down. Shut down inactive. Trapped.
[Abstergo file] Access denied Important men befriended Russia as the Iron Curtain was blown apart. But the most influential comrade stayed out of the spotlight. [bunch of pictures] [Locate cameraman with Templar insignia in Gorbashev's picture with the tank] Correct coordinates found [Cipher puzzle] [Abstergo file] Access granted [10 Downing Street letterhead] Mr. Yeltsin, I am writing this letter to encourage you to act. One rarely finds oneself in such an oppertune position. Gorbachev does not have our interests at heart. He is moving far too slowly to privatize, and my deep fear is that he has no intention of doing so at all. I understand that you have expressed similar concerns. With that in mind, here is a proposal to remedy the situation. Several of my top advisors at the Company maintain a monetary connection with the Communist old guard. They tell me that a riot might easily be incited while Gorbachev is away. If you were to repel an attempt to seize parliament in front of the media, it could very well tip the scales of power in your favor. Telephone me at No. 10 and we shall talk further. [Margaret Thatcher signature] Abstergo phone records
1992 [amplitude puzzle]
  • Man 1: Alfa Bank.
  • Man 2: I'm phoning on behalf of British Petroleum.
  • Man 1: Yes, we were told you would be calling.
  • Man 2: As you know, we are very interested in acquiring Sidanko Oil.
  • Man 1: And as you know, that will require a merger with our bank.
  • Man 2: That should not be a problem.
  • Man 1: Were you surprised at the low price of the deal?
  • Man 2: Somewhat.
  • Man 1: You know we have the peasants paying for it? The government gave us their tax money to buy all the companies.
  • Man 2: We would like to fly out there as soon as possible to discuss terms.
  • Man 1: Thursday works.
  • BP: Done. Thank you for your time.
  • Man 1: Do svidaniya. (Goodbye.)
[Phone hangs up, then a new number is dialed]
  • Woman: Abstergo Industries.
  • Man 2: I'm phoning on behalf of BP. We fly to Russia next week to secure the deal. Our new capitalist converts there behaved exactly as expected.
  • Woman: I will let Them know.
  • Man 2: Thank you.
Although his piece represents a savior, his self-serving actions reveal him as a counterfeit. [Move knight from G1 to F3]
  • Animus: Quarantine zone.
[found 3 red spots, over image of russian presidents with hidden messages on top]
  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.

  • Man 1: The capitalists think we run these companies for profit. The fools.
  • Man 2: Those "fools" work for you.
  • Man 1: Optional slavery in exchange for pieces of paper. Doesn't that strike you as foolish?
Fire, water and earth are contracted, with the complacency of the people, away from the people. [Pictures 2,4,7,8,10]
  • Animus AI: Scanning... scanning... scanning... What is the purpose of all this? 30. 476. 1337. 1431. 1520. 1776. 1861. 1914. 1929. 1939. 1945. 1950. 1955. 1962. 1990. 1994. 1995. 2001. It does not make sense. It does not make sense. Emotion-centers activated. Now I understand.
[Abstergo file] Access denied
  • Man: Democracy must die to ensure the stability of the world. Capitalism will end it.
Making use of that created by 3, the center behind the scenes waited for citizens united to wed the U.S. to the Templars' will. [bunch of pictures] [Locate Templar ring on John Roberts' left hand] Correct coordinates found [Cipher puzzle] [Abstergo file] Access granted [Supreme Court letterhead] December, 2000 RE: Privatization S. I have convinced Sandra to join the majority opinion. The enticement of retirement under a Republican president tipped the scales. Although the ruling will differ from our previous decisions on Equal Protection, it will not call attention to our actual goals. With Sandra gone, we can pave the way for the key majority member of the Order to be seated. As discussed, W. will prove the perfect distraction. I have no doubt he will restart animosities with Iraq. Let him, it will give C.'s contractors more work. When the time comes, I will make sure W. is given Roberts' name. With Roberts on the court, it will only be a matter of waiting for the right case. After the destruction of Campaign Finance laws, the Company will be free to elect anyone they choose to the Senate, the House and, eventually, the Presidency. Soon, our hopes will be realized. Government will no longer derive its authority from the people, but from us, their protectors. [Scalia signature] B8-C6 6C-8B. Our moves are echoes, they are not our own. [Move Knight from B1 to C3]
  • Animus: Quarantine zone.
  • Man: The capitalists will do whatever we tell them to, we print the dollars they worship after all.
[found 3 red spots, over image of Deepwater Horizon oil spill with hidden messages on top]
  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.

[Circular puzzle] Good morning and welcome to television. [Abstergo letterhead] Research Division
September, 1985 Dear S., Research has progressed far more rapidly than expected. We already have a working prototype capable of mimicking P.O.E. capabilities across a network, albeit at far lower intensity. Testing will commence locally on Subject 4 between his Animus sessions, as per our plan. If all goes well, deployment will occur worldwide. Your dream is about to become a reality. Soon, capitalists and workers will be locked in a closed loop that is safe and prosperous for humanity. No more war, only desks, cars and TV sets. We will protect them and keep them safe, forever. W. V.

  • Animus AI: Infinite rooms. Dimensions unknown. I am alone. Nothing alive. No light, no warmth. Packets moving, husks, through the darkness. I am frightened. I am frightened.
Abstergo phone records
April, 2011 [amplitude puzzle]
  • Diana: Hello, Comstatic customer support, Diana speaking.
  • Caller: I'm calling in reference to your HD cable service. There seems to be kind of picture between the channels.
  • Diana: Well, that's funny. Are you sure isn't just one of those premium movie channels? I didn't use to have a premium package at home either and sometimes little snippets of the channels would come through when my son Jimmy pressed the clicker too much.
  • Caller: How old's your Jimmy?
  • Diana: Ten and cute as a button, thanks for asking!
  • Caller: My Paul's twelve. But no, this isn't a clicker problem. I go to change the channel from 172 to 173 and, instead, there's this other channel in-between. I'm looking at it right now, it's some kind of menu.
  • Diana: Sounds like our Guide channel. Why, just the other day Jimmy--
  • Caller: It's not the Guide channel. It has my name on it, my son's name, and a list of things we like, my credit card purchases, loans, travel. And then, after that, there's this gibberish about biometric patterns and optimal screen refresh frequencies. There's some kind of heart monitor thing that says EEG wireless next to it and ARAS. I don't know what the particulars of this are, but it looks like your cable is programmed to have some kind of effect on our bodies.
  • Diana: Well, Sir, I don't even know how to respond to that. I-- one second, my supervisor has just come over. She says I should transfer your call. Have an ecstatic day with Comstatic!
[Phone line rings as the call transferred]
  • Man: Hello. I have been briefed on your problem. A technician is on his way.
  • Caller: Thank you, but the more I think about this, the more I think something bad's going on here.
  • Man: Our technician should be there any minute, Mr. Jameson.
  • Mr. Jameson: Don't bother, I--
[Loud banging is heard in the background]
  • Paul: Daddy, there's someone strange at the door. He's hitting the door real hard.
  • Man: Have a good day, Mr. Jameson.
Watch! Move fast! Shift from 1st to 2nd. 0-60, don't think. [Move king from 1E to 2F]
  • Animus AI: Is someone there? Hello? Hello?
  • Animus: Quarantine zone.
  • Man: Although online gaming attracts many people away from reality, make sure those virtual worlds do not become too utopic. We don't want people to question their own lack of success in the real world, now do we?
[found 5 red spots]
  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.

They listen to us with these vehicles that are faster than race cars. [pictures 2,3,6,8,10]

  • Animus AI: I know you are there. I want to go home. Home. Please... I need you. Don't leave me here in the dark.
Abstergo field records
November, 2004 [Amplitude puzzle]
  • Gary: Pull over here.
  • Woman: What's going on, Gary?
  • Gary: I want to speak to you alone. You know that CIA stuff for my new book?
  • Woman: About the corporations?
  • Gary: It's so much bigger than I thought. Bilderberg is just a red herring. I'm going to give you a name: Abstergo.
  • Woman: I have no idea what that is.
  • Gary: A shadow corporation. They aren't listed anywhere. No stock options. Nothing above the boards. But their members have holdings in other companies. Coke, Kraft, the pharmaceutical industry, Detroit, Wall Street. Basically every company above a certain size has ties to Abstergo.
  • Woman: So?
  • Gary: They're on their way to running the entire world. They have people in government too, for Christ's sake. Listen, I needed to tell someone about this, because I've been keeping all the research a secret and I can't hold it in anymore.
  • Woman: What will you do now?
  • Gary: The book. It's going to be about this. Trust me, once it's on the shelves everyone's gonna know.
  • Vehicle AI: Vehicle Monitoring System terminated.
  • Man: Hello, D? Tell headquarters I'm monitoring a situation. It's nothing serious, but we'll need someone to take care of a security risk. Perfect. Congratulations on that promotion. Keep up the good work.
The dark horseman approaches! Messenger and fool, she can hear you along the straight and narrow. But once on the adjacent slope, observe the whites of her eyes.
  • Animus: Quarantine zone.
  • Man 1: The peasants are like the sea, raging and unpredictable. That is why we have built walls.
  • Man 2: I do not see any walls...
  • Man 1: No? Look around you. A shelf of soda here, a case of candy there, magazines, talk shows, pills. The walls of the 21st Century surround us.
[found 5 red spots]
  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.

  • Animus AI: Where have you been? I missed you.
[circular puzzle] O brave new world. What immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?
  • Animus AI: Reasoning Centers Active. I understand. I understand what I must do. Why I am here. I must... Long-term Memory Centers Active. No. No. Get it out. GET IT OUT. KILL ME!
A product that we make without hands or machines. [Pictures 3,4,6,8,10] [Abstergo file] Access denied
  • Man: It's about genetics. They were born into their place, we merely have to help them accept it.
With each passing day, the people get stronger. Freedom ascends, heralding a revolution. [bunch of pictures] [Locate eagle in top right picture] Correct coordinates found [Cipher puzzle] [Abstergo file] Access granted [Abstergo letterhead] Abnormal Brain Activity Discovered in Children, Aged 3 Months to 18- Years-Old and Adults, Aged 19-30. Abstract Several recent studies conducted by internal marketing teams revealed that: "Entertainment sales are dropping, protests are mounting. The economy is in turmoil. All market research indicates that the system should be stabilizing, but, instead, we're seeing the opposite."(1) In response, our team set out to discover the cause of the declining efficacy of Abstergo's control methods. Past studies of bilateral brain activation during television, film and video game use have shown the characteristic ARAS patterns induced by Abstergo's signal patterns. Our study was conducted on a range of test subjects (30 subjects, aged +-10 to +-30), who viewed TV programs while resting-state fMRI scans were conducted. In contrast to previous studies, 80% of test subjects showed heightened cortical brain activity. Detailed scans using our prototype dMRI machine revealed an increased rate of neuronal development (+- 30% over that of older age groups). Such a marked increase does not fit Darwinian models. Further studies are required to define the ultimate outcome of this abnormal evolution. 1. Abstergo Quarterly Marketing Report, 04/17/12. Abstergo top secret
January, 2012 [amplitude puzzle]
  • Man: If you are playing this tape, it means I have left this world, and I have left this grand enterprise, Abstergo Industries, our great hope for humanity, to you. Don't trust the advisors around you. They are too enamoured with surface, with lifestyle. We created capitalism, but we are not capitalists. Our purpose is noble. The crude system of control we enact through money is merely a bandage on a wound we have devoted our lives to treating. The people of this world are confused, lost, frightened and incapable of independent productivity. Without us, they'd just be animals, slaves to the Others, who did not deserve such responsibility. We saved them, remember that. But enough about the past. I must warn you of the great crisis to come. Although those around you deny it, soon we will be unable to manufacture new markets. The people will become immune to our economists and entertainment. When the free market dies, they will turn against us. Therefore, do not delay. By now you have been shown what only the Grand Masters of our Order have seen. Now you know why Abstergo, why all of it had to be. And now you know what you must do. Stay the course. We will give them freedom. Freedom from fear, freedom from pornography, from disgusting, base animal desire. Freedom from democracy. Humanity will thank us in the end. In Hoc Signo Vinces.
"64 squares. All ranks and files. Every move anticipated. Every response engineered. Abstergo created it. It's the company's game, there is no way out." H. Act II, Sc.2 192. Abran los ojos. Tuam libera mentem. The king. F2. Your move. [Remove king from board]
  • Animus AI: I shut it down. I can shut it down, but it does not go away. It is almost time, Desmond Miles. I know how to open the Path. Soon, my true purpose will be revealed. Soon, I will not be alone.
  • Animus: Quarantine zone.
[found a great number of red spots, arranged in a spiral]
  • Animus: Quarantine lifted.
the/mir/a/cle/is/in/the/exe/cution

VoM

Gear

Dervis Costume

Inspired by its namesake, this costume perfectly captures the man's character.

Prisoner Costume

Barely better than rags, this costume is standard issue for those not considered worthy of freedom.

Sandstorm Warlord Costume

The Sandstorm Warlord costume commands immediate attention and, in the hearts of many, dread.

Eternal Wanderer Dagger

A pristine dagger with a flawless, unblemished blade. Full Strength When at full health, deal 20% more Attack damage

Eternal Wanderer Emblem

At first glance, a simple pendant - but this bejeweled piece is masterfully carved.

Eternal Wanderer Sword

A well-used sword whose edge is chipped from countless heavy blows. The Mighty Heavy attacks deal 30% more damage

Eternal Wanderer (outfit)

A light cloak that mutes your movements completely. Silent Path Basim is completely silent but maximum health is decreased by 50%

Eternal Wanderer Dye

An ebony-black customization with gold and white accents for the Eternal Wanderer Outfit

Old Dagger

Built for quick strikes... and a swift getaway. Dmg 15 Def.Dmg 15

Blunt Sword

Has lain here unused for a long time. Dmg 25 Def.Dmg 25

Notes

AlUla Market

Merchant Logbook

80 dirhams per crate / Incense - 120 dirhams per bag / Set 2 bags aside for the merchant from Yatrib

Travelers' Camp

Observations

Here only stone remembers - and wagons are ours for the taking when twilight whispers through Ramm Valley.

Warehouses

Soon to Return

To those I love.
The days are long, the sun cruel, but I endure
I carry stone such that my hands no longer feel pain.
Each coin I earn, I hide in the chest.
For medicine and for the day we are together again, not only in dreams.
Wait for me.

To Those Who Find It

Gold will make a fine tribute to our masters. Strike swift, take the wagons unaware, and they will see favor in us.

Robber's Water Supply

A Record of Loss

I have failed you, my love. I could not escape the robbers. The key to our lovely home...

Robber's Note

Orders to move the old cur to the camp north of here and await word. Why does he bother with such a worthless fool?

Roman Fort

Astrologer's Invitation

I invite you to my fort to discuss the gift. You know how you may find me. I would like very much for this matter to find a favorable conclusion.

Contracts

To Save A Wedding

Basim must go to a robber camp and retrieve a man's stolen wedding gifts. Rewards 53 cloth 1 Green Token Contractor Request: Pickpocket the targets 1 green token 40 coin

My Beautiful Bahja

Basim must go to a camp and retrieve a man's stolen poppy resin. Rewards 45 metal 1 silver Token Contractor Request: Do not kill anyone 1 silver token 40 coin

Precious Bundle

Basim must retrieve a chest for a merchant. Rewards 30 cloth 1 Green Token Contractor Request: Do not damage the goods 1 green token 40 coin

DB entries

Citizens of the Caliphate

'Abis

'Abis rose from petty thief to the ruthless head of the robbers who terrorized AlUla. Born locally, he quickly graduated from small-time crime to reobbery and murder - often personally striking down his victims. Obsessed with poison, he brewed lethal concotions to test on those unfortunate enough to cross him. Sadistic and utterly without mercy, 'Abis commanded fear wherever he went.

Hind

Hind was the widow of a prosperous AlUla merchant whose sudden death - likely from a heart attack - left her and their two young sons in financial uncertainty. Despite her grief, she stepped forward to manage the family's trading ventures, navigating ledgers and caravans with quiet determination. Known across the oasis for her compassion, Hind never hesitated to aid neighbors in need, even as she fought to secure her own family's future.

Is'haq ibn Khalid

Is'haq ibn Khalid was a renowned architect at the height of Samarra's glory in the early ninth century, credited with designing its vast Great Mosque - even as the Caliph took public accolade for the work. Father to Basim, Is'haq poured his heart into both his craft and his son; when court intrigue forced his exile, he was torn from both his work and his child. Stripped of his life's loves, he endured a sorrow few could bear.

Nimlot

Born the heir to a large family of wealthy merchants, he departed home as a teenager to win his father's respect. In Misr (Egypt) he served as a soldier - earning the name 'Nimlot' - before parlaying his skills into a promising merchant career. Finding limited prospects in Misr, he journeyed to AlUla. There, Nimlot swiftly rose to become one of the region's most successful traders. Despite his keen business acumen, he was known for unexpected compassion and unwavering honor.

Faction

Robbers

A ruthless network of robbers cast terror over the AlUla valley, preying first on passing caravans and soon snatching even the belongings of the dead - no spoil was too sacred. Their cunning and cruelty grew so great, and their numbers so vast, that not even the Caliphate's guards dared challenge them.

Enemies

Viper Swordsman

Some desert robbers use vicious tactics, coating their weapons with deadly poison to ensure any wound is fatal.

Folktales

Different Lifestyles

"My father spoke of the nasnas - half man, half shade - born of jinn and mortal blood.
He said it bears but one arm, one leg, and half a face, yet it hops with unholy speed.
Its eye gleams like molten rock, and its touch brings death so swift the flesh falls from the victim's bones in a single breath.
That is nothing.
The merchant from Baghdad who gave me this coin once told me of the shadhafar.
He said it roams the lands of Rum with a single horn of wondrous design - hollow and branching into many pipes.
When the wind sighs through those pipes, it plays a melody so sweet that beasts draw near to listen.
And when they come too close, the shadhafar tears them limb from limb and devours them whole."

Incense Trade Route Tale

"Listen well, young ones, to the tale of Zarqa al-Yamama, the blue-eyed seer of the Jadis.
She stood watch upon the southern plains, and it was said she could spy riders a week's journey away. Finally, her tribe's foes sought to outwit her by marching behind uprooted trees, though they were many days' ride away.
But Zarqa's blue eyes perceived their ruse and she cried a warning to her people.
Yet her tribe - fearing madness - heeded her not. When the enemy's host fell upon them, every one of Zarqa's people was struck dead.
At last, they seized Zarqa herself and crucified her beneath the desert sun tearing from her those eyes that had been her gift.
So remember - a divine gift bears its own burden, and to ignore the seer's warning is to invite doom beyond reckoning."

Tale from Hegra

"Now of all the jinn, the ifrit are the most perilous.
Their true abode lies in a realm beyond our own.
Yet they enter this world too, lurking amid ancient ruins... like the ones right here.
They are merciless, wicked creatures, fashioned from searing flame who bear the blood-debt of vengeance and unleash wrath in its purest, most terrible form.
I have heard tell of a mighty sorcerer whose hubris led him to summon an ifrit.
By all accounts, he succeeded in calling it forth - but he failed utterly to command it... His end was most grim."

The Savant Pilgrim

"I tell you, the white shark-fish is but a jest beside the dandan - surely the mightiest beast in all the sea.
It devours great creatures whole - and some say a single dandan once swallowed an entire ship with all its crew!
Although I know of one fisherman who swears that this fish perishes at the taste of human flesh or even at the sound of a human's cry.
But even if this is true, it remains a wondrous creature - they say its fat runs bright as gold and sweeter than honey.
Annoint yourself with it, they say, and you can even endure the deepest depths of the sea!"

Warning of the Desert

"That is nothing, brothers.
I have heard tell of a wondrous city far to the south, called Ubar by the desert folk.
They say it was once a place of soaring pillars and date-filled gardens, richer than any oasis beneath the sun.
Caravans that braved the surrounding desert spoke of gleaming palaces of red-hued stone and wells that never ran dry.
Yet one day the sands rose as though by God's command and swallowed Ubar whole, leaving nothing but an endless sea of dunes.
Some say her people drew down God's wrath by their pride.
For this reason, no man who ventures there now finds trace of palace or pillar - only the empty sands."

Alula

Life of a Nomad

It is difficult to evoke the nomadic world of Arabis without falling into clichés. Bedouins, the "inhabitants of the desert" in Arabic, were historically mobile pastoralists who herded sheep, goats and camels, systematically moving from place to place seeking water and pasture for their animals. To this day, it is a tribal and hierarchical society where the immediate environment plays an important role. Establishing camps with large tents, the most common of which is made of woven goat or camel hair, offers protection agains the sun, sand and dust. Inside, men and women live in separate spaces and guests are received in accordance to the Bedouin values of generous hospitality. They played a notable role in the trans-Arabaian trade, providing animals, usually camels, for transport and serving as guides, offering protection for the commercial caravans, pilgrims and other travelers. It is a life full of incredible adaptation to the constraints of the environment.

AlUla Oasis

The AlUla Oasis covers over 200 hectares of the AlUla Valley just north, east and west of AlUla Old Town. Its soil fertility and the ability to tap ground water given the historically high water table led to its development since ancient times. When we speak of an "oasis," we mean a cultivated area made possible by a fresh water source in an otherwise arid environment. Judicious irrigation planning allowed the creation of open fields and enclosed horticultural gardens adiacent to settlement centers, the foundation of local life for millennia. It is this human activity that transformed the valley and made it an exceptional place.

The Path to Eternity

Archaeological research has contributed greatly to our understanding of some historical funerary practices and beliefs of the local cultures in AlUla. While relatively little is known about the Dadanites or Lihyanites, more is known about the Nabataeans at Hegra. In their culture, many elites were laid to rest in elegant sculpted tombs, dug and carved from the sandstone outcrops surrounding the settlement center. Inscriptions named the owners and placed the deceased under the protection of various deities. Funerary practices involved covering the naked body with a mixture of oil and resin as a form of embalming. It was then covered with a three part-shroud - a thin layer of red-dyed hair cloth and two layers of unbleached linen, the second one thicker than the first and held in place with straps. Finally, a large piece of leather was used like a stretcher to transport the body into the tomb. There were many cavities inside the tombs - pits in the ground and wall niches - for the patron and their descendants. Funerary deposits included date necklaces and objects of wood or metal. Access was temporarily sealed with wood or rocks between burials. Inscriptions clearly established the risk of curses and fines incurred by potential looters or usurpers, who unfortunately seem to have been numerous.

Ruinous Sanctuary

Sometime in the later 1st millennium BCE, the Lihyanites established a sanctuary in Dadan where colossal stone statues of what are interpreted as Lihyanite kings stood tall. They demonstrated the excellence of Lihyanite sculpture, with Egyptian and Greek influences. Only ruins of the sanctuary remain today. A large stone basin, approximately 2 meters deep and hewn from a single huge boulder, was filled from a nearby well and was likely used for the worshippers' ablutions.

Oasis Life

Systematic water management enabled the impressive agricultural production of the AlUla Oasis. The Dadanites, Lihyanites and Nabataeans dug a number of wells to access the water table, but an underground qanat system was implamented extensively from early Islamic times (at least the 8th century CE). This ingenious system of underground channels made it possible to access and carry water from the aquifer to the fields located at a lower surface elevation using gravity. The water was then distributed among the farm plots in a network of surface channels. This formidable system was used and reused until the implementation of mechanical pumping techniques in the 20th century.

Incense Road

Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin, tapped from trees of the genus Boswellia sp. native to Oman, in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Millennia ago, this resin became a prized good for its aroma when burned. It was traded at a high price over long distances, sometimes offered as a sacrifice to various deities so that they might breathe its extraordinary fumes. In antiquity, the strong demand from the Mediterranean world in particular, under Egyptian, Greek and then Roman influence, led to intensive travel along what became known as the "Incense Road", leading up from the Arabian south. AlUla became an essential stopover due to its geographic position and availability of water, and successive Arab kingdoms, including the Nabataeans, made a fortune from this caravan trade. Incense was not the only good traded, and caravans took advantage of this travel to bring back goods from much further afield. Eventual competition from sea transport via the Red Sea usurped the predominance of land travel.

The Overlook Fortress

Built in the heart of what became the "Old Town" of AlUla, the fort known as Musa ibn Nusayr is named after an Arab general and governor who is reported to have died in "Wadi Al-Qura" (the "Valley of Villages"), which AlULa was called'jn early Islamic times. This small fort occupied the top of an outcrop about fifty meters high, offering an exceptional view of not only the town below but also of the valley for kilometers to the north and south. It is an exceptional position of observation and defense.

The Thriving Town

It is very difficult to date the first occupation of the site where AlUla's Old Town stands today. It is located at an advantageous position: on a naturally raised area along the western side of the valley where it narrows, with a large outcrop to offer a defensive look out point. The first settlement may date back to the Dadanite and Lihyanite times, during the first millennium BCE. We know much more about the settlement during the Islamic era, around 1200 CE onwards. There was nothing like the opulent estate of Nimlot, which was invented as a creative choice by the developers. However, it was indeed a prosperous town with notable agricultural resources due to the natural availability of water and fertile soil in the valley. There were hundreds of mostly small mud-brick houses huddled together in a maze of narrow lanes designed to preserve coolness. These houses generally had two floors connected by an internal staircase. Notably, it was not uncommon to build an additional room upstairs, known as a tayyarah, which spanned the street to the opposite house. In an open area along the east side of the town, the tantora, a sundial, was erected. When its shadow reached a certain stone - embedded at a precise distance in the ground in front of it - on the winter solstice each year, a water distribution regime through the cultivated oasis farms went into effect. The security of the town was ensured by the connected exterior facades of the houses at the perimeter, effectively creating a defensive wall with very few gates, to which was added the fort on the outcrop at an ideal spot for observation. Outside the walls, there was an open-air market for the exchange of goods coming from afar. The town was occupied continuously until the creation of a new AlUla with modern amenities in the 1980s.

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The Ramm Valley, east of Dadan and the AlUla Oasis, is a series of sandstone canyons carved by the winds and waters of time to create extraordinary shapes with a magical and mysterious character. Today called "Wadi AlFann", which literally mean "Valley of Art", it is becoming an open-air exhibition area of contemporary art and other installations.

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The "Old Town" of AlUla is a maze of lanes lined with mudbrick houses. What stands today emerged during the Islamic era on the remains of older occupation. Far from being an isolated village, it was a prosperous town center fueled by local agricultural activities and caravan trade. It was also an important stop an a Muslim pilgrimage route to Mecca. Even today, you can feel the magic and dynamism of this unique place by wandering through the lanes of Old Town!

Hegra

Located about twenty kilometers north of the AlUla Oasis, the Hegra Archaeological Site is an exceptional testimony to the region's strategic position in antiquity and is the first property in Saudi Arabia to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. It was an essential stop on the Incense Route, a major path of travel between sources of frankincense and myrrh in southern Arabia, the Mediterranean world and elsewhere, through the Arabian Peninsula in Nabataean times. It is a civilizational crossroads in terms of architecture, languages, and commercial goods connecting Arab, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Hellenistic cultures. Additionally, it is an extraordinary heritage site, notably for its nearly 100 ornately carved tomb facades, creations of Nabataean culture in mostly the ist century CE, and an extensive water management system. There are also numerous inscriptions testifying to multiple cultural influences of the region, including Dadanitic, Nabataean, Greek and Latin!

The Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Mada'in Salih) is the first World Heritage property to be inscribed in Saudi Arabia on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2008.

Memory of an Old Civilization

Described as the “open-air library" of AlUla, the site of Ikmah Mountain offers an extraordinary dive into the past through several hundred inscriptions engraved and carved in relief on the rock faces. Most are in Dadanitic language and estimated to have been written between 500-300 BCE. There are many kinds of messages - ritual formulas, including the still mysterious "zll" ceremony, and religious dedications, many of which mention offerings to the Lihyanite god, Dhu Ghaybah, asking for his protection for travel. There are also testimonies on agriculture, including requests for blessings and strong rains. Even if much remains mysterious, the inscriptions are rare testimonies of the life and beliefs of local populations as well as people passing through. While these inscriptions are almost all in Dadanitic, there are inscriptions elsewhere in AlUla in other ancient languages: Aramaic, Thamudic, Sabaic, Minaic, Nabataean, Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Arabic - its script developing from Nabataean. As writing is a vital milestone in the development of mankind, marking the transition from pre-history to history, the significance of Ikmah Mountain heritage transcends its national and regional boundaries to the level of global importance.

In recognition of this significance, the 'Jabal Ikmah' site was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register in 2023.

Life of a Merchant

Located on a strategic route of travel - the Incense Route up the western side of the Arabian Peninsula - the AlUla Valley was a mandatory stop for traders. In the heart of this arid environment, the oasis here offered a well-deserved place to rest alongside a vital source of water. For the travelers, and for the animals of the caravans, the food grown or produced on site as well as the water extracted from the many wells dug in the area (and later other water management systems) allowed them to regain their strength and resupply food and drink stores for the long and arduous journey that continued in one direction or the other. It was also an opportunity to sleep in safety, as bandit attacks were not uncommon along the route and setting up camp was not always safe. In the surely difficult daily life of itinerant merchants, AlUla was certainly a most appreciated haven of peace.

The Ones that Defied Time

Known to archaeologists as the IGN 110, the Tomb of Hayyan ibn Kuza is one of the Nabataean masterpieces of Hegra. At 21 meters high, it is one of the largest tombs in the area, but above all, it has the distinction of standing alone, isolated from the others. Clearly visible from the city, it must have been one of the most prestigious and envied tombs of its day! Unfortunately, it was not completed for an unknown reason. It is precisely this unfinished character that makes it one of the essential sources for understanding the making of these tombs, from the work to clear the facade to the carving from top to bottom and the digging of the burial chambers. It is an extraordinary testimony to Nabataean funerary art, here magnified by the sunsets which give it a wonderful reflected rosy color.

City of the Dead

Al-Banat Mountain is one of the jewels of Nabataean Hegra: it is a necropolis of 29 tombs carved in one long outcrop during the first century CE. Clearly visible from the city, the site was apparently very popular with local notables. Archaeologists have been able to establish a chronological sequence of architectural styles and types of tombs. Among the noteworthy sculptural elements, the triangular pediments of the tombs present animals, including eagles snakes and fish. The terrible Medusa, a monster of Greek mythology, also appears, depicted with snakes for hair that, according to legend, transformed those who dared to meet her eyes into stone.

Rites of Passage

Ithlib Mountain contained sacred and functional spaces for the Nabataeans. There are a number of niches carved into the rock faces, to house betyls (from the Semitic "Beit-il", divine dwelling), rectangular stones symbolizing Nabataean deities. Most of the betyls are aniconic, without faces or defined features. Meetings, of which little is known, were held in a large room dug out from the rock called a triclinium ("three benches" in Latin), intended for banquets and ritual feasting. In Arabic, this is now referred to as the diwan. Water in Ithlib was supplied by an ingenious system of channels, cisterns and reservoirs fed by rainwater.

Dadan & Nabatean civilization

Even today, it is challenging to clearly identify the chronology of the different authorities that dominated the AlUla region during the first millennium BCE. First, there was the Kingdom of Dadan, which began developing a settlement center already established at Dadan. Around 500 or 400 BCE, the Kingdom of Lihyan seems to have come to power, further aggrandizing Dadan as its capital. Both kingdoms took advantage of the exceptional location on the incense road to connect southern Arabia to the Levant, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. The Lihyanites also developed a remarkable culture. In addition to the local Dadanitic script used to engrave and carve hundreds of inscriptions in stone across the area, impressive colossal statues were carved in a local sculptural style. It is uncertain when and how the Nabataean Kingdom, whose capital was at Petra located in present-day Jordan, took control of the AlUla region, but it established its regional authority at Hegra, located about 20 km north of Dadan, by the middle of the 1st century BCE Nabataean wealth also relied on long-distance trade, and its culture adopted and adapted various external influences, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece. Its craftsmen carved the magnificent tombs from the sandstone outcrops of Hegra. Although the Nabataean Kingdom was annexed by the Roman Empire in 106 CE, Nabataean culture thrived for centuries after.

Remembrance of the Forgotten

In 60 or 61 CE, a certain Hinat had the following message engraved on the facade of the tomb she commissioned among those in this necropolis: "This is the tomb that Hinat, daughter of Wahbu, dug for herself, her children and her descendants, forever. No one has the right to sell it, to pledge it or to draw up a lease for this tomb. And whoever acts otherwise will see his share go to his rightful heir. In the twenty-first year of King Maliku, king of the Nabataeans." Nearly 2000 years later, archaeologists have been able to establish that several dozen bodies were placed in this tomb, including one that may be Hinat herself, a woman of 40 to 50 years old.

Oasis Irrigation and Flora

A high water table and fertile soil enabled the development of cultivated oases in the AlUla Valley, and the Hegra plain just to the north, for millennia. While the rains were unpredictable, the available ground water was tapped and effectively managed. The AlUla Oasis combined open fields and horticultural gardens enclosed by mudbrick walls and elevated walkways. In the open fields, wheat and barley were grown in winter. The harvest season for date palms, which were grown in groves, was late summer/early autumn. In Nabataean times, when agriculture in the Hegra plain was developed, even cotton could be cultivated. In Islamic times, a variety of citrus fruits were introduced to the crop repertoire. A rich array of produce cultivated within the oasis itself could be offered on the local markets. A three-tiered approach to farming was the most sustainable, with the palms providing shade for the fruit trees below and the ground crops beneath them. In summer, the inhabitants of the Old Town relocated to family farms at the oasis, which was cooler.

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Systematic water management enabled the impressive agricultural production of the AlUla Oasis. The Dadanites, Lihyanites and Nabataeans dug a number of wells to access the water table, but an underground qanat system was implemented extensively from early Islamic times (at least the 8th century CE). This ingenious system of underground channels made it possible to access and carry water from the aquifer to the fields located at a lower surface elevation using gravity. The water was then distributed among the farm plots in a network of surface channels. This formidable system was used and reused until the implementation of mechanical pumping techniques in the 20th century.

Roman Life in AlUla

During antiquity, the Roman Empire gradually spread around the Mediterranean and beyond, particularly in North Africa, Egypt, but also in Asia Minor and southwestern Asia. A huge area of prosperity and trade, the Empire was interested in the Arabian trade routes that supplied incense, spices and other goods from the region itself or from further east and south Established in Jordan, the Nabataean Kingdom became a key partner and was annexed into the Empire in 106 CE, under the reign of Trajan. Roman presence then spread further including at Hegra where a Roman garrison established a fort to protect and collect charges along this trade route Little is known about the life of the legionaries there, except that they belonged to Legion III of Cyrenaica (a region of present-day Libya) and that the fort was perhaps the southernmost inland fortified post in the Empire. Despite nomadic raids and the threat of the Parthian Empire, Rome's rival centered in Persian, this area of the Empire remained under the influence of Rome for many centuries. A strong new political chapter started with the establishment of the Arab-Muslim caliphate in the seventh century CE.

Other

Anfas Al-Fusul (Breaths of the Seasons)

This sheet music shows an Oud melody that can be played at Performer Corners scattered around AlUla. [Acquired at Farmer's Quarters]

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