All the contracts offered crafting materials and the assigning factions' respective Khidmah Tokens as rewards for completing the mission, with some extra dirhams if Basim ensured specific conditions were met.[1] They could be found posted on notice boards in the four Hidden Ones bureaus installed within the city.[3]
The Caliph's favorite concubine, a talented young woman, has been acting as a spy on our behalf. We believe she has gathered crucial information about our enemy's plans. Unfortunately, the Caliph has now uncovered where her true loyalties lie and has ordered one of his captains to interrogate her and then kill her.
Time is of the essence! We must eliminate this captain. After his death, while the guards are in disarray, our secret palace contacts will help the poor girl to safety.
The Caliph’s former concubine, that same girl we liberated not so long ago, informs me that a corrupt State Official plans to visit the Damascus Gate Prison.
What do I require? Well, I require the idiot dead so we can place our own man in his stead. This will help our cause. Now, feel free to take a direct hand in the killing. Alternatively, if the prisoners were to be freed, I am sure they would make short work of the Official (and take great pleasure in the bargain).
You will find the Official near the courtyard area, overseeing the prisoners on the first floor.
I wish you success,
—Ali
The Weapons Dealer
Hidden Ones, hear me!
A Weapons Dealer is wanted by the city guards for plotting against the Caliphate. He is one of our most valuable allies, and has pledged to support our cause by providing much-needed weapons. For now, however, he must escape Baghdad or face certain death.
Though proud and suspicious by nature, this Weapons Dealer is in desperate need of our help. You will find him hiding in his shop close to the Basra Gate. Escort him to safety before it is too late!
May Allah grant you success!
–Beshi
The Slave Merchant
Hear me, you Hidden Ones...
Do you recall the Weapons Dealer that we saved? Well, our actions now bear fruit... He informs me that a notorious Slave Merchant is arranging a shipment of human cargo at the Upper Harbor.
This slaver is a wicked fiend, who must suffer horribly for the atrocities he has committed. Burn him alive.
Good luck,
—Ali ibn Muhammad
The Informant
Basim! I call upon you, and only you:
The Caliphate's guards have uncovered one of our informants, a brave and crafty lad. It would be a disaster to our cause if he should fall into their clutches.
Our informant, the same boy you rescued previously, has revealed that a Slave Trapper, a man famed for his devilish cruelty, is present in Baghdad with a delivery of human cargo... Find this wretch and kill him. Without mercy. The good air of this world is not for the likes of him!
In order to locate the Trapper, you should tail a local Slave Merchant, who will lead you straight to the target. This merchant can be found in the shades around the public square north-east of the Sharqiyah bureau.
Happy hunting, friend!
–Ali
The Satiric Poet
Comrades!
One of Baghdad's most esteemed Satiric Poets has antagonized a powerful courtier, somewhat unwisely it must be said, with his sharp words. In response, the courtier hired a team of fearsome Turkmercenaries to snuff out the poor man's life.
This Poet was extremely fortunate to survive his intended slaughter at the first attempt. Now, fearing the cut-throats will return to finish the job, he desperately requests our help in fleeing the city. Whoever among you is available, please ensure he makes it to safety.
One of Baghdad's most respected scholars, an expert in local history, has been kidnapped by greedy bandits. He is rumored to be held in the Badaraya Sands Camp.
It is imperative we liberate this academic before he comes to a most unhappy end. Nonetheless, as typical intellectuals, his fellow scholars abhor violence (a noble sentiment, albeit a naïve one). As a result, they have requested that no harm should come to the bandits... if at all possible.
–Abu Jafar
The Botanist
My children of the shadows!
An eminent Botanist has been placed under arrest by the Caliphate. Normally he specializes in poisons, but he is now rumored to have discovered a panacea of some kind in the Pharmacy of Haylanah. Unfortunately, the authorities have monopolized this elixir, meaning the city's poor do not have access to it.
No doubt the Botanist has information on where his samples are stored. If possible, steal this information. But either way, you must locate several samples and drop them off at the bridge near the Botanist’s house.
Abu Jafar
The Dancer
To whoever finds themselves at a loose end:
One of the city's most distinguished Philosophers fears that his beloved daughter, Yasmeen, a dancer at the Caliphal palace, is being exploited by perverse and nefarious men.
He now requests that we help Yasmeen escape before it is too late. To the best of his knowledge, she is located in one of the halls on the first or second floor of the palace. Some of the other dancers within the palace may be able to provide more specific information... though the Caliph's guards will be watching them all very closely.
Someone, please rescue the poor girl!
–Abu Jafar
The Boat Heist
To my hooded friends, I have a job for whoever reads this first!
There is a boat moored in the Ditch Sluice of the Fief, controlled by a water master. Hidden among its cargo is something I would very much like to own. But rather than rummaging about, I suggest you steal the whole boat, which my contacts have conveniently marked.
Afterwards, you are to hide the vessel at the nearby port. My people will then come and take charge of the situation.
Your humble friend,
–Dervis
The Bronze Mirror Heist
Greetings, Hidden Ones! Another day, another job.
There is a bronze mirror I would very much like to have. It is currently located inside the Hammam.
An outdoor party has been scheduled there. I understand the chief guard will keep the baths under lock. I suggest you steal his key while he is distracted.
You will then have access to the baths where the mirror is stored. Seize it and escape. Afterwards, drop the mirror off at the nearby stash point.
Your ever-grateful companion,
–Dervis
The Carolingian Coin Heist
Hello my cowled companions! I have another undertaking that needs to be... undertaken.
I require one of you to poach a very special coin on my behalf. This coin has come to be in the possession of some delinquent monks residing in the Monastery of the Virgins.
Rumor has it that the monks have hidden the coin in some secret nook or cranny. But I am sure this will be of scant defense against the eagle-eyed methods of the Hooded Ones!
Your loyal ally,
–Dervis
The Marked Coins
To the Hidden Ones:
As you know, we merchants have been suffering attacks by local bandits. They strike with such impunity that I suspect there is a traitor providing inside knowledge. To secure proof of this, I have arranged for the Hidden Ones to provide me with a sum of marked coins. I will use these coins to track down the deceiver.
The coins arrive today. You will meet your colleague in the vicinity of the plaza south of the Great Mosque, where he will hand over the coins. You will then deliver them to me with the UTMOST URGENCY. You can find me in the Administrative Quarter close to the small mosque near the Damascus Gate.
Well, well, well... My ploy has borne fruit! The flow of the marked coins suggests that a Perfume Trader is the snake working with the bandits. I require one of you to infiltrate his quarters in the Oil Maker's District and search for evidence of his involvement. After all, we merchants will not resort to violence until certain of our target.
Now, I demand a bit more haste this time. The boy who delivered the marked coins was quite the dawdler. Was he even a fully-licensed Hidden One? I expect better this time. MUCH BETTER.
–The Trade Delegate
The Traitor
First, congratulations to "the dawdler". It seems my sharp words struck a nerve, resulting in a much-improved service.
Now, to business: the evidence retrieved proves irrefutably that the Perfume Trader is working with the bandits. I suspect he may even be their ringleader!
As a result, we no longer have any moral qualms when it comes to demanding his elimination. Do what you do best, Hidden Ones! You will find the lying wretch somewhere in the Soap Boiler's District.
–The Trade Delegate
The Trade Delegate
My fellow Hidden Ones!
The Trade Delegate has gone missing! The last anyone heard, he was travelling near a watering well in the Wilderness south of the city. His friends fear something most unfortunate has beset him. It may even be the bandits retaliating in response to the killing of the Perfume Trader... whom I suspect was not the ringleader we assumed him to be.
We must find the Delegate, and if he is alive, bring him back to safety. After all, his death could damage our commercial arrangements with the merchants. Their contracts bring in a steady income, which we can ill afford to lose!
–Abu Jafar
The Fake Message
For Basim's eyes and his alone:
You will be relieved to hear that I am making a full recovery thanks to your decisive (though belated) intervention.
I have now devised a shrewd plan to reveal the bandits' ringleader, whoever he may be. To achieve this, you must tail a certain messenger who loiters in a small square located between the Prince's Palace and Qasr Salih.
I require you to find out where he drops off his message, and then substitute it with a fake one.
–The Trade Delegate
Orion's Belt
My dear Basim, you continue to surprise and impress!
Now then, I believe the bandits' ringleader will be making an appearance at Qasr Salih. Your mission is simple: stake out the Qasr Salih gate, identify the target, and eliminate him.
–The Trade Delegate
Murjana's Request for Help
My name is Murjana. An old friend by the name of Beshi pointed me towards you. He told me that you shadowy figures are trustworthy and so I hope you can help me with a delicate and possibly perilous matter regarding my father, Ali Baba. You have no doubt heard his name. Meet me outside the gates south of Baghdad with haste.
