Water, Water Everywhere was a virtual representation of a genetic memory of a member of the Alamut Brotherhood active in Baghdad during the 860s.[1]
A Hidden One is tasked with stealing a tiraz from a Byzantine Ambassador.
The Byzantine Ambassador has been seen entering the Hammam (public baths). The steamy, crowded atmosphere is an ideal place to overhear his arrangements for leaving Baghdad and hopefully the location of the Tiraz. There are two bathhouses - as you open the door to the first one you can hear a woman's voice...
You should try the other one.
Hammam are single-sex baths, the Byzantine Ambassador will be in the men's! You enter the other bathhouse and hear, amongst the other chatting, the Byzantine Ambassador's attendant informing him that everything is boxed up and being loaded onto the ship. You set off for the harbor immediately in search of the Tiraz.
Demand that the woman discloses where the Byzantine Ambassador is - you know he is in here!
The woman immediately starts shouting that there is a man in the women's bathhouse. Her voice is followed by other panicked women's voices and the noise of running feet. Hammam are single-sex baths and the Byzantine Ambassador will be in the men's! By the time you enter the men's baths, the Byzantine Ambassador is leaving. You have no choice but to follow the Ambassador discreetly in the hope that he will lead you to the Tiraz. This is not ideal.
The woman must not hear you.
Once inside the room, you hide yourself and listen. It takes a while for you to realize that all the voices you can hear are female. Hammam are single-sex baths and the Byzantine Ambassador will be in the men's! By the time you enter the men's baths, the Byzantine Ambassador is leaving. You have no choice but to follow the Ambassador discreetly in the hope that he will lead you to the Tiraz. This is not ideal.
You arrive at the harbor and can see a stack of boxes being loaded onto a ship, but the Tiraz is not among them. The men loading the boat notice it is missing too and start shouting in alarm. Looking around, you spot a boat furtively heading up the canal carrying a single large box - a thief has gotten to it before you! How do you try to intercept him?
There is a wooden bridge ahead, you could use it to block the boat.
This wooden bridge is a floating pontoon, as most of Baghdad's bridges are. You cut the ropes connecting the bridge to one side of the canal and push the end of the bridge off. It swings out across the water and pins the boat against the side of the canal. All you need to do now is take the Tiraz from the box.
Hopefully it will stop and you can take the box then.
You follow the boat as stealthily as possible, but unfortunately the men from the harbor do the same and they are soon surrounding the thief and the box. You are forced to snatch the box from them and run. You open the box as you are making your escape. Hopefully if you take the Tiraz and drop the box that will distract them so that you can get away. Using the bridge to catch the thief would have been quicker and much safer.
It's a long jump and a small boat, but you think you can make it.
You race along the side of the canal and take a flying leap into the boat. It rocks alarmingly, pitching you, the thief and the box into the canal. You dive into the water after the box - you can only hope the Tiraz has not been ruined by the water. Using the bridge to block the boat would have been less risky.
There are three items inside the box; a bowl, a bag and some embroidery. You only have seconds to choose the Tiraz, but which is it?
Those threads look as though they might be gold.
Yes, this is a Tiraz! You slip it inside your clothing and leave the box behind. Heading for the Bureau you cannot help but grin - against all the odds you have managed to obtain the Tiraz. The Hidden Ones and the Art Collector will be impressed.
Made of glass, it looks light and delicate.
As you try to take the bowl from the box you realize it's been cracked in two during the chase. You hope that wasn't the Tiraz, because if it was then the Art Collector won't want it now. Then you remember - a Tiraz is a piece of embroidered cloth! You snatch up the embroidery and head back to the Bureau.
The contents give off a strong, sharp, herbal smell.
As you remove the bag from the box you recognize the smell - Balsam... this is not a Tiraz! You remember that a Tiraz is a piece of embroidered cloth. Grabbing it from the box, you run into the alleys. You make it back to the Bureau breathing hard from the escape - hardly making you look like you've handled the mission with ease.
The Art Collector was delighted, the Tiraz appears to be in immaculate condition. He added that if he works with the Hidden Ones again, he will specifically request your help as it is clear you proceed with care.
The Art Collector noted that the Tiraz appears to have been slightly damaged, he suggested that the Hidden Ones may wish to choose a more careful agent for future item retrieval missions.
The Art Collector complained that the Tiraz has been badly damaged during collection. He added that if the Hidden Ones cannot take care when handling irreplaceable items, then this may be the last time he agrees to work with them.
Mission Completed! You successfully obtained a Tiraz for the Art Collector, who gives the Hidden Ones his piece of the Astrolabe as payment. Well done! You have collected another piece of the Astrolabe! You mustn't lose momentum. Get started on your next mission as soon as you can.
The Hidden One stole the tiraz undetected and traded it with a collector for an astrolabe piece.
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.
Discovery Tour: Medieval Baghdad memories
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| Byzantine Ambassador - My Brother's Keeper - Water, Water Everywhere - The Road Most Travelled - The Caliph, the Thief, his Wife, and her Baby - The Music of the Garden - The Quick and the Dead - Dine Like a Prince - The Astrolabe - Aligning the Stars |