The Al-Zarik investigation in Assassin’s Creed Mirage can be started from the Abbasiyah Bureau in Baghdad. There you’ll first learn about the Ahmad ibn Musa case, which directs you to The House of Wisdom. Once there, you’ll discover that some books have been burnt, and you can follow the clues until you find The Caretaker of Books, which sets you off on the trail of Al-Zarik (aka Zahra). On this page, we’ll show you exactly what to do to uncover all of the clues you need to find and assassinate Zahra.
The Al-Zarik (Zahra) investigation in Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Pictured: Basim and Hunayn, a notable scholar of the age.
Where to Find the Caretaker of Books in The House of Wisdom¶
The first thing you’ll notice in The House of Wisdom is the burning pyre of books in the courtyard. There you’ll meet Fazil Fahim, who is the most senior official in charge of the place. He’ll direct you to the Caretaker of Books, who can normally be found in the nearby library. The only problem here is that the library is currently in a state of lockdown, with numerous guards patrolling the area. If you want to investigate it, you’ll need to assassinate some of them as you make your way through.
Before you head to the library, look to the table on the southwest side of the courtyard, where you’ll find a note containing a list of some Missing Books. This provides a clue about an ancient manuscript that is written in an unknown tongue, something which becomes relevant later. After inspecting the note, make your way inside the library by heading down the hall to the southwest, then turning right (northwest). There are guards at the door here, so it’s time to start assassinating them.
(1 of 4) Read the Missing Books note in the courtyard of the House of Wisdom.
Once you’ve dealt with the guards in the first room, make your way up the stairs to the northwest. You’ll find more guards patrolling the hallway here, and you should be able to assassinate them one at a time without being seen, using the bookshelves and dividers for cover. At the end of the hallway, turn left and go down the stairs. You’ll find more guards down here, and if you look over the stairs near the top, you can see the body of the Caretaker of Books.
After assassinating the guards and inspecting the body of the Caretaker of Books, you’ll discover that he wrote “mansakh (scriptorium) in his own blood. There’s also a piece of fabric from a woman’s gown in his hand, providing another clue related to his potential killer. You now have the Scriptorium case active, providing you with your next lead: to visit the Scriptorium and find out why it was so important for the caretaker to mention it with his final actions.
Follow the Fiery Trail - Explore the Scriptorium¶
The Scriptorium is not contained within The House of Wisdom, but you can get there easily on foot since it’s about 200 meters to the east. Make your way there and be ready to infiltrate it with stealth, since there are plenty of guards around the entrances. The best way to get inside without being detected is to climb the walls to the right of the main entrance, and then gradually assassinate the guards from above. Once you’re in the main courtyard, you can use the foliage in the center to hide from the guards while you wait for them to pass before taking them out.
Take the Key From the Guard Captain¶
It’s a good idea to clear as many guards as possible throughout the Scriptorium before you make your move on the guard captain. He can be found on one of the balconies on the northern side, in the same room where you’ll find a gear chest containing the Abbasid Knight Sword. Once you have the key from the captain, go downstairs and assassinate the two guards there, if you haven’t already. You can then make your way back outside and use Eagle Vision to see Hunayn in the building opposite. You can use the key you just acquired to gain access to the building.
(1 of 4) The location of the Scriptorium, to the southeast of the House of Wisdom.
Speak to Hunayn¶
It won’t be long before you learn that Hunayn is being kept against his will, forced to work on a book that is written in an unknown manuscript. This is the same book that you saw mentioned in the note that you found in the courtyard at The House of Wisdom. Hunayn will also tell you that he’s being forced to work for a woman named Zahra, who is an Order of the Ancients member in the guise of a scholar. After speaking with Hunayn, you’ll have an opportunity to search the building for more information by inspecting the following:
- Hunayn’s Note
- An Orderly Poem
- Book Deliveries Note
- A diagram of a machine
Once you’ve inspected all four of the above, you’ll unveil The Book Burner Case.
The Book Burner - Search Zahra’s Estate for Proof¶
To find the evidence you need to prove that Zahra is a member of the Order of the Ancients, you’ll need to search her estate. This is located in the Abbasiyah region of Baghdad, at the southern end of the Suburb of Kahtabah, shown in the screenshot below. When you arrive, you’ll notice that Zahra is currently absent, and the estate is unguarded, giving you the freedom to explore without being harassed. You need to inspect a number of different objects here before the mission will progress:
- A training dummy on the eastern side
- A book of poetry by Arib, in a building on the southern side
- “Books to Check” note on a balcony on the southeast side
- “Incriminating Letter” note, inside the building behind the balcony
The training dummy is easy enough to find outside, as is the “Books to Check” note and the “Incriminating Letter” note in the building next to it. The book of poetry is slightly more difficult to access since the door to the building where it’s contained is locked. However, if you go to the back of the building you’ll find a wooden window frame which can be destroyed. You can then jump through the window to get inside.
(1 of 2) The location of Zahra’s Estate, in the southern part of the Suburb of Kahtabah.
The location of Zahra’s Estate, in the southern part of the Suburb of Kahtabah. (left), You can see all of the clues in Zahra’s Estate highlighted here. (right)
After interacting with all four of the clues mentioned above, all you need to do is wait for Zahra to return to her estate. To do this, you need to get to a specific point in the estate: a balcony on the western side. This will be marked with a quest marker, so difficult to miss. Go to it and wait there for the cutscene to begin. Zahra will show up, and sit down on the balcony where you found the “Books to Check” note. Now is your chance to move in for the kill.
The easiest way to kill Zahra here is by going over the rope to the east, then perching on the building above the balcony where Zahra is seated. She may get up after some time, but she should remain in the same general area. The assassination will be easy, but you’ll need to deal with the guards afterward. A great time to use Assassin’s Focus if there ever was one. If you’d rather not bother, just run out of the estate to complete the mission.
(1 of 2) Make your way to the mission marker and wait for Zahra to arrive.
Make your way to the mission marker and wait for Zahra to arrive. (left), You can assassinate Zahra from above. (right)
More Assassin’s Creed Mirage Guides¶
If you’re looking for more AC Mirage guides, be sure to check the links below.
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