The Farmer

The Farmer was a virtual representation of an Alamut Hidden One apprentice's genetic memories relived through an Animus.

Description

A Hidden One is tasked with helping a new farmer at AlUla Oasis.

Knowledge needed

• Database: Dadanites, Lihyanites & Nabataeans
• Database: Farming the Oasis
• Database: Flora of the Oasis
• Database: Tantora

Dialogue

Spring and Summer

Harith explains that he needs to know what to plant. He asks what crops are the best to grow during the spring and summer months.

DatesWheatPotatoes

You suggest that with the warm sun of spring and summer, growing dates would be a good choice.

You recall that dates need a lot of sun to grow and ripen, making them a good choice to plant in spring or summer. This is a perfect suggestion.

As wheat is needed all year round for making bread and other staple foods, you suggest that he should begin by planting that.

Harith looks doubtful. Wheat is a winter crop, needing cooler conditions and more water than the summer provides. Dates would have been a better suggestion as they need the bright sunlight of summer to ripen.

You suggest that potatoes would be a perfect crop to plant in spring or summer.

He has never heard of a potato and looks at you with a confused expression. Potatoes have not been introduced into the region during this period. You would have done well to suggest dates as they need a lot of sun to ripen.

Winter

He looks over the nearby fields and then asks what he should do in the winter after he harvests the first crop.

Wheat and BarleyDatesOryx

You suggest that in winter he should plant a grain such as wheat or barley.

You have correctly recalled that crops like wheat and barley need both cooler conditions and more water. They are the perfect choice for winter crops.

Dates are a known delicacy of the region, and you suggest that he should grow them in the winter.

Harith seems doubtful but smiles at your suggestion. Dates, whilst common in the region, are not suitable to be planted in the winter. You would have done better to suggest that he plant wheat or barley.

You suggest that the best choice would be oryx.

Harith looks confused at your suggestion and explains that whilst the oryx is common in the region, it is an animal, not a crop! Wheat and barley would have been a more sensible recommendation.

The Changing Seasons

After you answer, Harith has another question, he wonders how he will know when it is time to change crops at the beginning of Winter.

SundialWait for the Winter SolsticeWait until it gets colder

You recommend that the best way to know if it is winter is to use the Tantora.

The Tantora is a sundial located in the Old Town. It casts a shadow which reaches a rock fixed in the ground on the first day of the winter solstice. This is the ideal suggestion to know when winter begins.

You recommend that he waits for the festival of the Winter Solstice before planting his winter crops.

Harith is not fully convinced, since the festival lasts several days. You would have been better to suggest that he use the Tantora sundial to know exactly when the Winter Solstice begins.

You recommend that he waits for it to get cold. That way he will know it is time to plant his winter crops.

Harith responds that the winter would indeed likely be colder than the summer and that his problem is knowing when the season has changed. You would have been better to suggest that he use the Tantora sundial as that shows exactly when the Winter Solstice begins.

Outcome

All correct answersAt least 1 wrong answerAll wrong answers

You have provided exceptional help and advice to Harith ibn Ghayth. He gives you a fragment of an ancient Nabataean inscription in thanks. He also invites you to come back to enjjoy his first harvest of dates.

Though Harith will likely seek some more advice on some of the challenges he faces, he is grateful for the information you have provided. He thanks you and gives you a fragment of an ancient Nabataean inscription.

Harith ibn Ghayth appreciates your attempts to help even though he doubts the usefulness of your answers. He passes on the fragment of the ancient Nabataean inscription as promised and walks off muttering under his breath.

Outcome

The Hidden One received a fragment of an ancient Nabataean inscription as a reward for their help.

Behind the scenes

Choices within each step were reordered based on the score given in the application's source code, from best possible choice (score of 3) to worst possible choice (score of 1). Considering the hint included in each step points towards the best answer, it is assumed that is the canon choice.