Fuladh:You yourself know well the divide between rich and poor. Many have grown tired of the injustice, and want change. In the beginning it was mostly slaves, but now tradesmen, the wealthy, and even some nobles support Ali's cause.
Basim:And Ali intends to lead them in overthrowing the Abbasid Caliphate?
Fuladh:Ali believes the most qualified should rule, not just the wealthy or highborn. Ironically, he considers himself the most qualified, and claims descent from the Prophet's own family to support it.
Fuladh:It is a bitter story. The Zanj are peoples stolen from their homelands in the Horn of Africa, and brought here to work the fields for the wealthy.
Fuladh:They are paid, but they are not free. Like all men, they desire to be masters of their own lives.
Basim:What do you know about Jarjaraya?
Fuladh:It is a small village to the south, home to a divided population of rich and poor. Most of the Zanj are there. It has also become a refuge for those who came to Baghdad looking for work, and failed.
Basim:No wonder Ali has gained support there.
Fuladh:Yes. In few other places is the divide between those who have everything and those who have nothing so sharp.
Basim:What of yourself, Fuladh? How did you come to the Hidden Ones?
Fuladh:That is a story that should be shared around a good fire after a long meal.
Basim:Will you tell me nothing?
Fuladh:I was the child of my father's concubine. His favored wife, worried I could claim inheritance, threw us both out. I grew up in the desert alone. My friends were the animals, particularly birds. We understood each other.
Ali:Does it not bother you that those you obey are the same ones who make the rules demanding your obedience?
Basim:They do not control me, I am free. I fight so that others are free as well.
Ali:Everything you do serves the Hidden Ones. That is a strange kind of freedom.
Basim:The Hidden Ones are my family. There is no contradiction.
Ali:If you say so.
Basim:Once, I lived on the streets and answered only to myself. But I was not free.
Ali:Now that others tell you who you are, are you any freer?
Basim:You could not understand.
Ali:I understand better than you.
Ali and Basim arriving at the village
Ali and Basim reached near the village.
Civilian 1:There's another one. Who is he? I've never seen him before.
Civilian 2:Where are all these strangers coming from? Jarjaraya isn't safe anymore.
Civilian 3:Ali, you are here! Alhamdulillah! (Praise be to God!)
Civilian 4:Ali, I know you will avenge us!
They got off their horses. and headed into the village.
Ali:If you are truly free, why the struggle within?
Basim:What do you mean? There is no struggle.
Ali:I see that what you think is at war with what you feel. You will never find truth if you are not first truthful with yourself.
Basim:No man can see what another thinks.
Ali:No normal man. But look at me. I obey no one, I am ruled by no one. I am free.
Ali telling Basim to investigate the teahouse
They climbed onto a roof.
Basim:I want to look around before Beshi arrives in Jarjaraya with the bodies.
Ali:That would be wise. People here are already angry. Things will be worse after the burials. There is a teahouse nearby. Tea drinkers talk. You might hear something there about who is taking our men.
Basim:What will you do?
Ali:I have my own inquiries to make. Meet me back here if you discover something.
Basim left and headed to the teahouse.
Tea House Owner: Marhaban! (Welcome!) Please, find a seat. Or perhaps view my unparalleled selection of teas. The finest in all Baghdad!
Basim:This looks like the teahouse Ali mentioned.
Civilian:How is your tea, ya sayyidi (sir)?
Elder:This is cold! Get me another, and heat it this time!
Civilian:Yes, sayyidi (sir). A thousand apologies.
Elder:Perfectly good Zanj slaves go missing, yet incompetents like you remain. No! Stop talking. Just get my tea!
Basim finding a drunken man by a pond
Basim headed to the back of the teahouse and found a drunken man laying down by a pond.
Civilian:You work and work and what do you get? Nothing! Damned slaves! I treat them well, I pay them well, I feed them... and then they disappear. And no one's left to work!
Basim:He might talk... if I can sober him up.
Basim picked up the man.
Basim:Time to sober up.
The drunken man now sober from his "bath"
He threw him into the pond, which woke up the man from his drunken state.
Civilian:Enough! I'm better!
Basim:A teahouse is a dangerous place to be drinking. You could have been arrested.
Civilian:I've just had a lot of trouble lately.
Basim:You said some of your slaves have gone missing.
Basim learning about missing slaves
Civilian:Did I? I don't remember. Not just missing, they disappeared!
Basim:People do not just disappear.
Civilian:These did! Last night two of mine did not come back from the fields. No one saw anything. They just disappeared. Poof!
Basim:So you thought you would get drunk in a public teahouse.
Civilian:Well... yeah. Oh, my head. Look, do not tell anyone. I have to go home and fall over.
The civilian left. Basim returned to the teahouse and headed upstairs, finding a big chest of tea bricks. He picked up one of them.
Basim:Someone who loves tea would find this irresistible.
Basim returned to the first level and approached the elder.
Basim:I overheard you mention that slaves have gone missing.
Elder:What? Who are you? How dare you talk to me. Go away!
Basim:You are obviously a man of taste. I would be willing to part with a brick of tea for a moment of your time.
Elder:I thought I... wait, tea? All right, but be quick, before anyone sees me talking to you.
Basim:You mentioned Zanj slaves have been going missing.
Elder:I don't see what it has to do with you, but yes. A stranger, one of those rebels, has been disturbing the slaves. After he spoke with them, they disappeared. No doubt he's an acquaintance of that troublemaker Ali ibn Muhammad. That's all I know. Now leave before someone who matters sees me talking with someone like you.
ElderHow dare you! What do you... Wait, how did you come by one of those? Fine, but make it quick!
Basim:You mentioned Zanj slaves have been going missing.
Elder:I don't see what it has to do with you, but yes. A stranger, one of those rebels, has been disturbing the slaves. After he spoke with them, they disappeared. No doubt he's an acquaintance of that troublemaker Ali ibn Muhammad. That's all I know. Now leave before someone who matters sees me talking with someone like you.
Basim left the elder alone.
Tea House Owner:Hey! Over here! This way!
Basim following the teahouse owner
Basim approached the man.
Basim:Did you want something?
The teahouse owner whispered to Basim.
Tea House Owner:Not here, there are too many... ears, if you take my meaning.
Projecting his voice, he continued.
Tea House Owner:Ah, yes sayyidi (sir)! Our special teas are kept in the back. This way, watch your step!
He began leading Basim away from the open courtyard.
Tea House Owner:Follow me. Act casual.
They reached a pavilion behind the teahouse.
Basim learning about missing people
Tea House Owner:All right. It's clear.
Basim:Well, we... seem to be alone. What did you want?
Tea House Owner:Sorry for the melodramatics, but you never know who is watching. And this sneaking about is all rather exciting! I saw your red sash and heard you talking about missing slaves. Another has disappeared form a farmhouse near here.
Basim:How do you know of this?
Tea House Owner:I am friendly with the family. The husband was one of those executed. Now the son has gone missing as well. His mother is beside herself with worry. I thought you might be able to help her.
Basim:Tell me where this farmhouse is.
Tea House Owner:A little to the west. Slaves don't trust easily, but if you can do anything for her, I would consider it a personal favor.
Basim concluded his investigation at the farmhouse.
Basim:I should return to Ali and tell him what I have discovered.
He returned to Ali at the rebel hideout, where he found Ali and Beshi interrogating a guard.
Ali and Beshi arguing
Ali:Did you know I can hear what men think?
Beshi:We should not do this. It will only make more trouble for us.
Ali:More trouble than executions?
Ali slapped the bound man.
Ali:They slaughtered our brothers. How do you not understand?
Basim:Ali, what is this? This is not what we agreed to.
Ali:I do what must be done. I do not need your approval. Did you discover something?
Basim:Slaves are disappearing from all over Jarjaraya, one from a nearby farmhouse. I will go there, and see what I can find.
Ali:Good. Our friend here has been spending his mornings at the harbor, meeting with one we think is informing for the Caliph. You could find this informant and follow him. See where that leads. Meanwhile, Beshi and I will loosen our friend's tongue.
Beshi:This is a mistake, Ali.
Ali:Let us see...
Basim left the rebel hideout.
Basim:I should look for the informant, and help the widow find her missing son.
He made his way to the nearby harbor.
Basim finding the informant by the harbor
Basim:This is the harbor. The informant is here somewhere.
Using his Eagle Vision, he found the informant sitting by a bench.
Informant:Hmph. No notes today. I should get going. It's almost time.
Basim:Time for what, I wonder? I should follow him, but I cannot let him see me.
Basim eavesdropping on the informant
The informant left and Basim began following him from a far. He followed the informant to a dock, where a Turkic captain talked to him. Basim then sat on a nearby bench to eavesdrop.
Informant:I've got new information.
Soldier:What have you got for me?
Informant:Apart from that slave kid I already told you about, someone's been sniffing around Jarjaraya, asking questions.
Soldier:Is it the one we reported last time, that troublemaker Beshi?
Informant:This one is new. No one seems to know anything about him.
Soldier:What are you doing then? I'm carrying letters for the boss, and you're wasting my time! Come back when you've got a name.
As the informant and the captain went different ways, Basim followed the captain and looted a note from him.
Basim:These two were gathering information for someone called Dogan bin Arslan. I must find this Dogan, but first I should help the widow with her missing son. Perhaps it is connected.
Eventually, Basim returned to Ali at the hideout, where he found the interrogated guard dead.
Ali:You return at last.
Basim:What have you done?
Ali:What I had to do.
Basim:Is this what your freedom looks like?
Ali:I do not follow your creed, nor do I answer to the Hidden Ones. This is the price of war.
Basim:Beshi would disagree...
Ali:Beshi does not lead this rebellion! He does his part, and I do mine. But enough. What have you discovered?
Basim telling Ali about Dogan
Basim:The missing slaves were taken at the order of one called Dogan bin Arslan. Something big is happening soon. I do not know what.
Ali:I do. This one said my men are being interrogated, and are to be executed by their leader afterward at the villa.
Basim:Ali, the informant mentioned Beshi by name. They are looking for him.
Ali:Let them look. Go free my men. I will prepare our attack on the villa. Meet me near the farm when you are done.
Ali took his leave, while Basim took a look at the dead guard and shook his head. He then left the bureau and headed to a farm with fields.
Basim:This looks like the farm where Ali's men were being held.
He found a number of Turkic guards with prisoners held in cages and buildings.
Soldier:These stupid slaves are going to be sorry they didn't just do their work.
Soldier:The boss won't go easy on them. He loves his work.
Basim first eliminated the guards around the cage.
Rebel: Alhamdulillah! (Praise be to God!) We thought we were dead.
Basim finding the captured rebels
He then freed the rebels held inside.
Rebel:Get me out of here.
Basim:Ali is waiting just outside the farm. Go quickly.
The rebels left to regroup with Ali.
Basim:The widow's son is not here.
Basim next headed to the building.
Soldier:I heard the kid is the son of one of those executed rebels. He came looking for his father's killers.
Soldier:Well, he found them, didn't he? He'll go the same way as his father now.
Basim freeing the widow's son
Confirming that the widow's son was inside the building, Basim eliminated the guards and entered, freeing the rebel.
Basim:Your mother is waiting for you.
Widow's Son:I'm not going back yet. They killed my father. I will fight with the others!
Basim:You are brave. Fine, meet Ali outside the farm.
The rebel left.
Basim:That is all of them. I should meet with Ali.
Basim left the farm as well and met with Ali.
Basim:Is everyone here?
Ali:Dogan bin Arslan dies now. We wait only for you.
(Accept - Let's begin the assault)
Basim:I am ready. Let us go.
Basim following Ali and the rebels
Basim followed Ali and the rebels to Dogan's villa.
Ali:They stole you from your homes when you were free, and brought you here to die in their fields as slaves. They slaughtered our brothers like dogs in Sharqiyah. Now they have taken more of us.
Rebel:No!
Widow's Son:No more!
Ali:I promised you a new life. I gave you my word. More join us every day, from the least in Baghdad to the greatest. Allah is with us. Our cause is righteous. Our justice is destined. God is great! God is great! There is no God but God, and God is great!
Rebel:There is no God but God!
Ali:There is no judgement but by God!
Basim, Ali, and the rebels attacking Dogan
Basim, Ali, and the rebels fought Dogan and his men.
Dogan:You rebels need to learn your place!
After killing Dogan, Basim looted a letter from his body.
Dogan's Orders
Dogan,
I want a full report of your progress this week. Al-A'eshma in particular has questions about the stranger nosing around Jarjaraya recently. I suggest you make extra effort to provide answers—for your own sake. Al-A'eshma, more so than me, does not like to be disappointed.
We will expect you at the Officers' Club in Shargiyah, as usual.
