Dine Like a Prince 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 infiltrating a dinner at the Prince's Palace.
Hours later, you are in the Heir apparent's quarters. You cunningly ensure that you are sat next to the Heir apparent. He is saying that he feels the Umayyads are getting too bold when a huge tray of food is brought for everyone to share. The servant moves to place it on a low table. What will you do?
Perhaps this might show restraint and good manners.
You agree with the Heir apparent about the Umayyads and wait patiently for the servant to place the food down. The other guests around you do the same and the Heir apparent smiles at you. You have done well so far.
Perhaps this might show how eager you are to enjoy the food.
Your hand almost knocks the platter out of the servant's hands. You hear one of the guests grumpily call you a "pot-picker" and can see the Heir apparent frowning at you. You should have waited for the servant to put the platter down.
Perhaps this might show how delicious you expect the food to be.
You lick your fingers ostentatiously and take some food. Several of the guests make loud noises of disgust and the Heir apparent frowns. That was a big mistake, it would have been better to just wait patiently.
The dinner party is going well, you notice that some of the other guests are sneaking alcohol into their cups when they think the Wali Al Ahd cannot see. The Heir apparent appears relaxed and mentions that he found a piece of some sort of fascinating astrological device while exploring Samarra recently. When you ask him where the piece is now he changes the subject. How will you convince him to tell you where the piece is?
Start telling the Heir apparent a gripping story, then say you will only finish it if he tells you where the Astrolabe piece is.
You tell an exciting story and, inspired by the One Thousand and One Nights, pause on a cliffhanger. The Heir apparent is desperate to hear what happens next and you insist on hearing about the astrological device in exchange. Laughing he says there is not much to tell and that the Astrolabe piece is inside a lustreware jar in the next room. That worked brilliantly! At the end of the party you slip silently into the next room.
Perhaps it might loosen the Heir apparent's tongue if you offer him some alcohol.
The Heir apparent looks insulted and refuses the alcohol, saying that while some here might flout Islamic Law, he will certainly not partake. When he irritatedly turns away from you the guest next to you winks at your bold offering and lets you know that he has seen what you seek; the Astrolabe piece is in a lustreware jar in the next room. You make your exit, ignored by an offended Heir apparent, and slip silently into the next room.
It might be possible to use intimidation to get the information.
You lean sideways and whisper to the Heir apparent that there will be painful trouble for him if he does not tell you where the piece is. The Wali Al Ahd looks frightened, quietly replies that the piece is in the next room inside a lustreware jar. As soon as you exit you hear the Heir apparent shouting for the guards! You only have moments to find the Astrolabe piece.
You enter the next room; you only have moments to identify the lustreware jar and take the Astrolabe piece. There are three jars dotted around this room - which do you choose?
This jar has a gorgeous metallic sheen to it; it stands on a shelf.
Yes! The Astrolabe piece is inside, you take it gently out of the jar and silently slip out through the window. Hopefully the Heir apparent will not realize that you were the culprit, but even if he does - you will be long gone.
The design on this jar suggests Greco-Roman influence; it stands in an open cupboard.
The piece is not inside; you chose the wrong jar! This is taking too long. You hear voices just outside the door as you finally find the piece inside the golden glazed jar and make for the window. You just manage to drop from the edge just as someone comes in at the door - that was close!
This beautiful porcelain jar might be Chinese; it stands on a table.
The piece is not inside; you chose the wrong jar! Panicking, you fumble with the other jars, dropping one on the floor where it smashes. You finally find the piece inside the golden glazed jar. Alerted by the noise the guards burst into the room just as you slip out of the window! You are chased through the streets but manage to take refuge in the Hidden Ones Bureau.
The Hidden Ones are pleased; you managed to blend in so well it is unlikely that the Wali Al Ahd will suspect you, even once he notices the Astrolabe piece is gone.
You may have spoiled the Wali Al Ahd's dinner party, but at least you were not arrested. Perhaps next time you could ensure that things go according to plan.
The guards and the Wali Al Ahd will surely be on the lookout for you now, it may be necessary to keep a low profile for a while.
Mission Completed! You managed to find and take another piece of the Astrolabe, right under the Heir apparent's nose. You did well. You have collected another piece of the Astrolabe! As soon as you are ready, you can secure the next piece.
The Hidden One recovered the astrolabe piece from the Wali Al Ahd.
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 |