Nobility of the Xiongnu
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Nobility of the Xiongnu was a virtual representation of one of Wei Yu's disciple's genetic memories relived through the Animus.
Description
Following their audience and subsequent confrontation with Meng Tian, Wei Yu's disciple meets up with their sworn sister Yu Ying to discuss their next step.
Dialogue
As the youxia left Meng Tian's estate, Yu Ying called out to them.
- Yu Ying: Over here!
They approached their companion.
- Yu Ying: Glad to see you made it out in one piece.
- Wei Yu's disciple: The general says that the purple Qin troops are acting out of his command.
- Yu Ying: So then... w-who does commands them?
- Wei Yu's disciple: He isn't sure but he suspects whoever it is is working with the Xiongnu.
- Yu Ying: The Xiongnu... I saw some of the general's troops taking some Xiongnu to the Yangzhou Prison.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Yes, he told me he was rounding them up. If they're working with these purple Qin soldiers, one of them might know more. If we can offer them freedom... Maybe they can help us.
- Yu Ying: You want to break them out? Of the Great General's prison?
- Wei Yu's disciple: We don't know a single thing about the Xiongnu. Their customs, traditions, ways of life. If we want to travel beyond the wall to find out their connection to Chu's murderer, we need to find an insider. Even if that means breaking into the general's prison.
- Yu Ying: I... You're right. Follow me. I know exactly where the prison is.
Yu Ying started leading her sworn sibling to the prison, with the pair crossing the city to reach it.
- Yu Ying: The general isn't going to be very happy if he hears you broke into his prison.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Then I'll have to make sure he doesn't know it's me.
Eventually, they stood before the stronghold's main entrance.
- Yu Ying: Come on. We're here. It's heavily guarded, so be careful. I'll meet you at the market stalls in Yangzhou when you're done.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Hopefully with a friend.
Yu Ying gone, the disciple climbed the walls of the garrison and infiltrated the prison.
- Wei Yu's disciple: This place is filled with the general's guards. I should try to keep a low profile.
They sneaked their way through the building's defenses, until they reached the entrance leading to the underground cells, where the disciple saw a Xiongnu hostage lying down inside one of the cells.
- Wei Yu's disciple: There, a Xiongnu. If I can get him out, maybe he can help us navigate their lands.
Approaching the cell, the youxia witnessed a Qin soldier interrogating the prisoner.
- Xiongnu prisoner: I have spent so many moons living in this city. I am no longer in touch with the goings-on of my people.
- Guard: Liar! Your Xiongnu people must have attacked the wall for a reason.
- Xiongnu prisoner: And if they did, I am unaware of it.
The student dealt with the guard and used the key he carried to free the prisoner.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Come on, let's get you out of here.
The two started threading their way outside of the fort.
- Xiongnu prisoner: Who are you? What do you want with me?
- Wei Yu's disciple: Escape first, talk later. Quickly, before we get caught.
- Xiongnu prisoner: So I take it you do not work for the Qin Empire?
- Wei Yu's disciple: I work for its people, not its leaders, no.
- Xiongnu prisoner: And what do you want with me?
- Wei Yu's disciple: I will explain when we are far from listening ears.
The disciple and the hostage left the prison and met with Yu Ying at the market, close to Meng Tian's residence.
- Modu: So I should thank you two for my rescue. You're both... rather young.
- Yu Ying: We didn't do it out of the kindness of our hearts.
- Modu: I didn't think so. So, what can a lowly Xiongnu like myself do for you?
- Wei Yu's disciple: We need information. We plan on travelling beyond the wall and we could use a guide. Someone who knows Xiongnu culture.
- Modu: Look no further. I am a subordinate of Touman Chanyu himself. The leader of the biggest Xiongnu tribe. In return for freeing me, I will show you the ways of the Xiongnu. Now let us move before more guards arrive. I'll see you at the beacon tower in the northern wall.
Modu left the youxias by themselves.
- Wei Yu's disciple: He's too friendly to trust.
- Yu Ying: I'll keep an eye on him. Meet us as soon as you're able.
Her sibling nodded and she left for the watchtower.
- Wei Yu's disciple: That Xiongnu seemed too eager and willing to help us. He's hiding something, but I don't know what other option we have.
The disciple crossed Yangzhou city once again and left it behind, heading towards the Great Wall. There, they climbed a large watchtower, finding Modu and Yu Ying observing the Frontier, close to its beacon.
- Modu: There you are. I was just about to explain yo your friend the situation of my people.
- Yu Ying: He's actually... been nothing but cooperative.
- Modu: My people are a scattered one. We roam the lands, pausing where there is water and grass for our herd to pasture. When the grass has been chewed to dirt, we move. Because of this, it's impossible to know exactly where a tribe is. Unless you know the winding ways of our herders.
- Wei Yu's disciple: You propose we travel with you while you search for your tribe?
- Modu: No, you would only slow me down. There is a small village inside the Mu Us Desert. Wait for me there.
- Wei Yu's disciple: And leave you to return to your tribe all on your own? Do you take us for fools?
- Modu: I give you my word and my honor as a Xiongnu that I will return to the Mu Us village the moment I locate my tribe.
- Yu Ying: And how much weight does your word hold, exactly?
- Modu: I suppose you'll have to find that out. Or we can travel together, slower than a tribe roams, and find nothing. Your choice.
The youxia pondered for a moment.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Go, then.
Modu gestured in gratitude.
- Modu: You will not regret this.
The Xiongnu left to descend the tower. The student approached their companion, who was looking towards the horizon.
- Yu Ying: Jingjing is out there as well. I'm going to try and find her. You meet up with him as soon as you can.
Yu Ying left the other disciple alone once again, who climbed to a nearby beam. They synchronized the viewpoint before faith-leaping into a pile of hay on the other side of the Great Wall. The youxia ventured into the unknown territory, eventually reaching the village where the Mu Us tribe Modu had mentioned had settled.
- Wei Yu's disciple: This marketplace is bustling! I hadn't expected so much wealth flowing in through Xiongnu lands. If I'm to move through their lands, I should learn more about their people.
The student entered the camp and started perusing through it, approaching a fur merchant seated near his stall.
- Xiongnu merchant: Hello! Are you another Qin trader? Come to trade with me? I assure you I am shrewd!
- Wei Yu's disciple: Shrewd? That's a strange way to put it...
- Xiongnu merchant: Yes, yes. A rich Qin merchant who passed by earlier told me that people like me who are shrewd can earn a lot of money!
The youxia thought to themselves.
- Wei Yu's disciple: I don't think that's a compliment... but I can't bear to tell this man the truth.
They addressed the trader.
- Wei Yu's disciple: I suppose earning money is a commendable skill...
- Xiongnu merchant: Yes, yes. That wonderful man even bought furs from me directly, without trading wares! He was so rich he gave me taels.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Really? That's surprising to hear...
- Xiongnu merchant: Yes, yes. My business has been going great ever since the Qin took over. Good Qin merchants like that man are generous.
- Wei Yu's disciple: And who might this good merchant be?
- Xiongnu merchant: That good merchant came with guards and they called him Master Yang. He must have been a noble!
The student speaked to themselves again.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Master Yang? Could it be Yang Duanhe?
They turned to part ways with the tradesman.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Well, I thank you for your insight. I may have some business with this Master Yang you speak of.
- Xiongnu merchant: Yes, yes. Always a pleasure to meet a shrewd Qin!
The student resumed their investigation, grasping their opportunity among the villagers to dance with them in front of the encampment's main tent. Eventually, they spotted one of the tribe's herdsmen and approached to talk to them.
- Herdsman: Look who's come to spit in our faces. A Qin dog.
- Wei Yu's disciple: I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want to learn if anything noteworthy has happened recently within the Xiongnu.
- Herdsman: Why? So you can exploit us even more? I'll give you something to learn about—my fists!
Another meachant who had approached the pair interposed in the conversation.
- Xiongnu merchant: Hold there, brother! There's been enough blood spilled in these lands! Leave him be!
The heardsman backed down and the merchant turned to the disciple.
- Xiongnu merchant: I apologize for my friend's behavior. Not all of us are so hostile to the Qin.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Thank you for stepping in. I'm not here to cause trouble, just to find out the recent goings-on of your people.
- Xiongnu merchant: Ah, you've been rescued by just the right man! I travel through the lands, carrying gossip and whispers town to town. I could tell you anything you want to know! For a fee, of course.
- Wei Yu's disciple: How much—
- Xiongnu merchant: A thousand taels!
- Wei Yu's disciple: That's outr— I can't afford that.
- Xiongnu merchant: Well then, everything you have will do. If not, I can't guarantee I'll be there to stop another fight.
The heardsman bumped into them, stealing their money purse.
- Wei Yu's disciple: What—
A chase between the youxia and the heardsman broke out.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Get back here, you scheming cutthroat!
The student pursued the man into an arena where several other Xiongnu fought. There, the thief approached a bulking man.
- Herder: There, brother, he's the one that threatened me!
- Xiongnu brute: You dare threaten my people on my land?
Huyan Xiong started attacking the youxia with his two maces.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Threatened? No, I didn't—
- Xiongnu brute: Qin dog! Even if you kill us, you will never take away our freedom!
- Wei Yu's disciple: That is not what I'm here for!
- Xiongnu brute: If you're not fighting for us, then you're fighting against us!
The disciple decided to riposte, with the other warriors and the heardsman fleeing the arena and assembling at its doors, watching the fight. The student managed to stun the brute.
- Xiongnu brute: You think you can come into our territory and terrorize our people?
- Wei Yu's disciple: I have threatened no one! Please, I am not here to fight you! Lay down your weapon!
- Xiongnu brute: And give you the chance to stick me like a pig? So many of my people have been killed by you Qin monsters, I will not be one of them!
Eventually, the disciple defeated the strongman.
Although you manage to defeat the Xiongnu warrior, more of them step forward and you are clearly outnumbered. Just then, the Xiongnu prisoner you saved leaps into the fray on horseback, calling for the Xiongnu to stand down. To your surprise, they comply and refer to him as prince. He looks at you, knowing he owes you an explanation.
The two talked close to the now empty arena.
- Modu: I am not the subordinate of Touman Chanyu. I am Modu Chanyu, his firstborn son. When we lost the war against your general Meng Tian, my father saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. He gave me to the Qin to broker peace, while installing my youngest brother as the next puppet king. No doubt by attacking the Qin, he hoped the Qin would bloody their hands with my execution so he could keep his clean. But now that I'm back, I will restore order to the Xiongnu. I will end this needless civil war.
- Wei Yu's disciple: A fine ambition, one I will not stand in the way of. Yet I can't help but worry if you have forgotten our agreement.
- Modu: Hm, I have not. As promised, I will be your guide in these lands. But your motives haven't been entirely clear either... What is it you seek that requires you to risk your life?
- Wei Yu's disciple: The truth. I'm investigating a possible connection between rogue Qin elements and your people.
- Modu: Then we seek the same thing. I have indeed suspected my father has had dealings with the Qin. To start, we should investigate a nearby Qin village; my father's men are rumored to be on their way there. His dealings have benefited him at the expense of our people. And those that follow him are cut from the same cloth.
- Wei Yu's disciple: I understand. Take the time you need amongst your own, I will head to the village first.
- Modu: Do not go easy on them. They are ruthless slavers. Those who would sell their own are not one of us.
The youxia left the Xiongnu prince.
- Wei Yu's disciple: Prince Modu said these men were slavers. I won't hold back when I meet them.
Outcome
The two youxias freed a Xiongnu hostage from Meng Tian's custody, who agreed to guide them through his people's lands. Yu Ying's sworn sibling ventured beyond the Great Wall, investigating a village close to the Mu Us desert. Their visit to the camp ended in a confrontation with a brute, which was stopped by Modu himself, revealing to the disciple that he was the oldest prince of the Xiongnu. The student then headed to a village pointed out by Modu in hopes of discovering the truth about the attack on Jade Spring by interrogating his father's men, who could be in collusion with the purple-garbed soldiers.
References
Assassin's Creed: Jade memories
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