Woken up by screams. You rush out of your house to see Jade Spring Village burning at the hands of Qin soldiers in purple uniforms. You rush forward, looking for Chu Huan and hoping to save whoever you can.
[goes to Yangzhou General's Residence. There, he finds a scroll]
[goes to the gate, finds a bunch of people dead and Yu Ying fighting the purple soldiers]
[kills them all]
With the Qin soldiers defeated, Yu Ying rushes forward and crouches over a corpse that's been crushed under a carriage. Numbly, she tell you that she is the only survivor. With grim determination, you show her the letter from the Grand General, swearing to avenge your people, and march off to the construction camp to find him.
[Finds a hole in a wall nearby and crawls in the house, old fan is watching from a window in the next room over, door is blocked by a shelf]
[destroys some vases and moves a shelf out of the way to enter the room fan zeng is in]
Bitter Conduct
- Full sync conditions
- No Assassin has been Poisoned by a Viper (Elite Guard).
- Apocalypse Intro
Venice - 1524 - Headquarters of the Brotherhood
It has been years since your team of Assassins last met in the hallways of the headquarters of the Brotherhood. They all have had their share of heroic actions and tense fights with the Templars.
Now they are assembled again for a special briefing.
Months ago, The Brotherhood received worrying reports about a group of former Assassins gone rogue, deep into the jungles of the ancient kingdom of Cambodia. Very worrying rumors are circulating: a powerful artifact is in their possession and the Templars are actively looking for it. They seem to instill terror into the local populations. Not to mention the fact that this group is giving the Brotherhood a very bad reputation...
The rumor has it that they are led by a giant viper who goes by the name of Colubra...
A group of less experienced Assassins was sent to investigate but they have gone silent and the Brotherhood is not optimistic about their fate. This is why they has tasked you, the four most loyal and experienced Assassins currently in Italy, with the delicate mission to find the team that was sent before you, recover any artifacts they may possess, seek the rogue Assassins and deal with their leader in the most discreet fashion.
You will not be alone in this: Shao Jun, a brilliant Assassin was on her way back to China but accepted to help you work your way in the jungle of the Khmer Empire.
Good luck and remember: Nothing is true, everything is permitted!
- Memory Intro
Your first contact with the region was as rough as you had anticipated. Harrowing weeks on a merchant ship, total estrangement in a land where almost nothing reminds you of Italy, the heat and humidity... Fortunately, some of you are well traveled. After weeks of sailing on the Mother of all Rivers, the Tônlé Mékôngk, as it is called by the people you met, you are starting to appreciate the wonders of the Khmer Empire. Traces of its glorious past are popping up at surprising turns of the river, with the majestic temples, grandiose vegetation and incredible life forms.
In a small settlement in the heart of the jungle, you are set to meet Shao Jun, the Assassin who will accompany you on your journey. As you come close to the meeting point, you see that villagers have gathered around a sick bed. Shao Jun lies there, livid.
You understand that she has been poisoned and that she needs an antidote as soon as possible in order to survive. The villagers point out to the area where the village keeps a small stash of locally made antidotes.
It seems you will have a first taste of what lies ahead as you spot a group of strangely clad soldiers guarding the antidote stash.
- Objectives
Collect an antidote.
- Debrief
You give the antidote to Shao Jun, hoping for the best. After a few hours of anxiety-ridden sleep, she seems to have recovered and thanks you profusely.
She reveals that she was poisoned by a very intriguing figure she believes might have something to do with that Colubra you’re looking for. You need to find what happened to the previous Assassin team...
Chasing the Rabbit
- Full sync conditions
- Perform Shao Jun's deadly dance on a square containing 4 Guards.
- Intro
As you were investigating in a village, a young boy told you he has heard of people looking like you and that there were belongings in a clearing nearby. He would never dare to touch them, as the spirits of the dead are known to haunt that place.
The boy guides you to a promontory that may help you locate the clearing. As you approach it, you notice that an eerily bone-chilling fog has descended on the region...
- Objectives
Synchronize from the top of the Naga to locate signs of the Assassins of the first expedition and then recover them.
- Debrief
The fog finally dissipated and you reached the clearing. No ghosts here but you can tell the Assassin team definitely passed through here, as one of them left their belongings, including a small diary.
As you read the account of the search for the Assassin named Colubra, you can’t help but feel uneasy. There seems to be some malevolent force at work in this region.
You realize Colubra is a Portuguese word for Serpent. That means you are on the right track.
One of the most intriguing pages of the diary shows a drawing of a stunning female warrior, along with the symbols [SYMBOLS]
Seek and Do Not Destroy
- Full sync conditions
- No Assassin became exposed because of Mae Wa.
- Intro
You reach a village and ask around about the symbols [SYMBOL] but no one seems to be willing to talk about them. Some even refuse to look at them in the diary.
After several hours asking around, one of the village elders, a woman who looks so old she seems almost eternal, points to the jungle ahead.
“Climb the Naga and look for a soldier called Mae Wa who will lead you to what you are looking for.”
Do not hurt her or the serpent will kill us all!
- Objectives
Locate Mae Wa by Synchronizing from the top of the Naga, then follow her stealthily, avoiding detection.
- Debrief
If 1+ Assassin left the Map through the Secret passage,
read the following:
As you see the fierce female warrior leave, you feel that you need to follow her further as she clearly has something to do with those rebel Assassins.
The team that was there before you seems to have vanished into thin air. As you ask around about them, you only get silent looks of disapproval in response. Most of those you ask do not even bother replying at all.
It looks like those Assassins have not left any good memories around...
If no Assassin left the Map through the Secret passage,
read the following:
You lost track of Mae Wa... After several hours of searching, you finally locate her! Tick 1 box on the Threat Gauge.
The team that was there before you seems to have vanished into thin air. As you ask around about them, you only get silent looks of disapproval in response. Most of those you ask do not even bother replying at all.
It looks like those Assassins have not left any good memories around...
Bombs Away
- Full sync conditions
- Intro
You managed to find tracks of Mae Wa that lead to a small building next to a temple in ruins.
Nearby, a group of soldiers have a lively conversation but you cannot make out the words. Suddenly, they all freeze and seem to enter some kind of trance.
One of the female soldiers is trying to open a locked grate. The hissing sounds now seem to be surrounding you and you begin to feel uneasy as if it was drawing you to that grate.
You cannot see what is behind the grid from where you are. You need to get closer and investigate.
- Objectives
Investigate the camp. [!] After reaching the Objective, take the large card A#27 and follow the steps on the [Keys] side
- Debrief
That was the largest and most frightening animal you have ever met. Was that monstrosity even an animal?
In the lair of the snake you found a broken blade, which seems to be a peculiar design of a Hidden blade from the Brotherhood.
It is clear those soldiers have a strange serpent cult and they are definitely connected to the rebel Assassins.
During your investigation, you overheard the soldiers talking about going back to their boats. That is a lead you should follow.
The Mission
- Full sync conditions
- Attack 1+ Crocodile and Eliminate it.
- Intro
As the female warriors mentioned their boats, you are now trying to find where they could have needed them.
You gather from villagers that there is a ford, a few hours walk from here, where travelers sometimes come from.
After a while, the sounds of the forest grow more intense as the rumble of a mighty river can be heard in the distance.
You finally reach the riverbanks, just in time to spot a shining blade on the other side. It is time for some swimming!
- Objectives
Find clues from the Furies.
- Debrief
This side of the river feels different. The animals are quieter, the forest is much darker and the air feels oppressive. Following some tracks, you found the entrance of underground river tunnels. There
are mostly animals and plants you have never seen before, some of them are even quite repulsive.
Finally, you reach an underground pond, where a strange blue light seems to glow from the water itself. There, four small boats are waiting for their owners...
Fear and Loathing in the Valley
- Full sync conditions
- No Assassins were Eliminated.
- Intro
Despite your best efforts, the warriors you spotted leaving the ford are nowhere to be found. As dusk is upon you, you are about to set camp when you find a very dense wall of trees. Your keen eyes are not
fooled by the hastily arranged thicket and as you split the branches, you reveal a passage to a clearing. Darkness engulfs you as you spot unknown animal eyes spying on you.
The clearing meanders through rolling hills where you finally spot remains of a campfire. You are on your guards and move ahead to investigate what seem to be a freshly abandoned camp.
- Objectives
Search the camp to find traces of the Furies. [!] After you have Eliminated all Enemies on the Objective [keys] AND all the Assassins gathered on the [keys] square, take large card A#25 and play it.
- Debrief
You obviously face a much more dangerous threat than you imagined. You almost drowned there!
Those Furies were unsettling. They seemed to be possessed by some strange power. And the water felt almost like it had its own will, as if it was corrupted to the point that it would try to drown you on purpose.
Hold the Fort!
- Full sync conditions
- During each Enemy Reinforcement Step, you must never be short of Guard miniatures.
- Intro
Even though the Furies almost got you all killed, they made a big mistake as they revealed the location of their real encampment. Once they realize you are targeting their base, the Furies come to you at full force! You need to regroup and find a strong position to defend while you prepare your team for what is to come.
Fortunately, you spotted an easily defensible position within the camp.
The Furies are closing in on you, it's time to defend the Brotherhood!
- Objectives
Block the Enemy Entrances A, B and C in the same turn. Shao Jun may exceptionally complete 1+ of these Objectives. Then remove these 3 Entrances from the Map. If you fail to block all 3 entrances in the same turn, Memory fails.
AND
Synchronize at the top of the Naga to make the Secret Passage appear and use it to leave the Map.
- Debrief
Well done Assassins! You managed to delay the Furies enough for you to maybe reach their base and find out who the mysterious Colubra is.
From what you gathered about Colubra, the rebel Assassins must be in a stronghold further into the jungle. This does not fit with the information you’re been given by the Brotherhood.
Obviously, someone wants to muddy the water. You should be on your guard, as something is amiss in this mission.
Another World
- Full sync conditions
- Intro
You raced to what you though would be a fortress, where Colubra should be.
But now you are among simple people, villagers peacefully assembled and busy with their daily tasks. They look at you with fear in their eyes. And then you realize, there are almost only women and girls here. This cannot be the rebel Assassin holdout you've been told about.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a group of female warriors encircles you. It seems the villagers are not so peaceful...
- Objectives
Search the Furies camp. [!] After the first Assassin reaching the [keys] Objective, take large card A#33 and play it.
- Debrief
Colubra is not just a rebel Assassin. She holds a terrible power! Is she really this tall? It’s hard to believe...
You have heard of that kind of power before, but to experience it firsthand is incredible.
You remember the disturbing events you have witnessed years ago in Italy and can’t help but think the Brotherhood would not ignore about the supernatural powers wielded by Colubra.
And it seems that the giant snake and Colubra have more in common that meets the eye...
Snakes Get Madder
- Full sync conditions
2 of the Assassins (other than Shao Jun) must have left the Map by the end of the 6th game turn.
- Intro
Colubra has now retreated, probably to her real hideout, further into the forest. As you move deeper in, you find there are almost no more villages. The darkness is growing. The lifeforms are weirdly corrupted and even the plants take strange shapes.
Every sound makes you shiver or jump, as if they were distorted by the corrupted air. And now you have just spotted those aggressive snakes that resemble the giant one you fought a while ago...
- Objectives
Learn how to flush out and capture Hydras. [!] After completing the Objective, take 1 Hydra token from the Danger token pile and place it in your plastic bag.
You should also Synchronize at the top of the Naga to locate other potential Hydras to capture. Reminders: any Hydra revealed by an Assassin who moved to its space is automatically captured and placed in your plastic bag. Shao Jun cannot capture Hydras.
- Debrief
Those hydras were not natural. Something is transforming the environment.
It does not take you long to understand that this rebel Assassin has taken control of a very powerful Apple of Eden. You have never heard of an Artefact capable of changing the environment that way, but you will need to make further research.
Your mission is starting to make more sense, but you cannot help wonder why the Brotherhood didn’t mention the Apple...
Into the Dark
- Full sync conditions
No Assassin has lost [health].
- Intro
You are getting closer to Colubra’s hideout. But here the land seems devastated, as if a plague has taken possession of it. The animals are overly aggressive. When you look at the plants, you can almost feel them breathe.
This corruption is unbearable. You can see how this is a serious threat to the world, not only to the Brotherhood. You must cleanse this place before it is too late.
- Objectives
OBJECTIVE OF THIS MEMORY
Flood the source of corruption. [!] Attention: The flood will take place at the end of the turn in which you complete the Objective, then reveal the card [keys].
OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE
If you Synchronize before completing the Objective, you may be able to scout the surroundings and avoid getting overwhelmed.
- Debrief
Well done, the corruption of the artefact has been wiped from this place, although you can’t help but wonder how deep it runs and if the place will ever be as before.
You will need to find a more permanent way to restore the order of things.
You gathered some strange tales from the rare people in the area. Ones of fierce battles between a giant warrior and a giant snake. Could this be Colubra and Sesha? It looks like they were fighting together though....
The End (BOV)
- Full sync conditions
Reveal the 6 Danger tokens placed on the Map when it was set up.
- Intro
You are now in sight of the enemy’s hideout. The air is heavy, the sound of the running water is overwhelming. Even though you cannot see the enemies, you can feel their presence. The glints of the rare sun rays that reach the ground reflect on their weapons, blinding you on purpose.
She’s there, you can feel her corrupted presence. It is as if her aura is making everything more crisp, bigger than life. Even the Stalkers’ shadows seem to disappear!
As you come near her presence, you can sense the weight she carries, the pain she feels and the sheer power and life force she imposes on everything around her.
- Objectives
Reach the temple on the other side of the chasm using a grappling hook, then perform your first ritual on the Objective. [!]After completing the Objective:
- Permanently discard ([X] ) 1 Hydra token from your plastic bag.
- Remove the reminder token.
- Ignore this Memory's special rule from now on.
- Debrief
Colubra, the rebel Assassin, was not fighting along Sesha, unlike you expected. The Apple she carries is unlike anything you have seen. It changes not only the way people act around her, but it also changes the physical world, to the point of changing her own size to that of a giant!
And it doesn’t seem to stop there, if you would believe the accounts of whole regions devastated by the power of that artifact.
It seems that the ritual involving the hydras, whatever it does, prevents Colubra from using some of her powers.
The Fall of Man
- Full sync conditions
Each Assassin has kept more than half of their [health].
- Intro
The Apple must be destroyed at all costs. If ever it was to fall in more organized hands, it could be the end of the world.
You have now reached the innermost part of Colubra’s sanctuary and you can tell how the Apple has modeled the environment to Colubra’s rage and despair. You feel like a complete stranger in this place, even more than before. It’s like nothing was real, every little thing is altered and scary.
You see Colubra in the distance and you can hear the hisses of snakes all around. It’s almost unbearable.
- Objectives
Reach the Objective to destroy the artifact. [!] After reaching the Objective: Reveal the [keys] large card.
- Debrief
Isabel, the former Assassin who was known as Colubra, is no more. You have accomplished your mission, albeit with a bitter ending.
Even though you didn’t retrieve the Apple, it felt the right thing to do to wipe this thing of the surface of the Earth.
You come to realize Isabel only ever fought for the people around her, those for whom no one would fight. In the end, she made the ultimate sacrifice, like a true Assassin. You will remember her. Now, before you leave, it is time to get to know those people better and help them.