S6 M8: Setting Sail

Sequence 06, Memory 08 -- Setting Sail

Although this is a very brief mission, it seems like this was a very long journey through this sequence, and especially when you consider that it entailed a lot of traveling both on foot and by boat, with some interesting developments in between such as a relationship with The Prince and with Sofia, but now it is time to leave, even if temporarily...

To complete the part of the journey that was prompted by the deciphering of the map and Polo's books, and as every good journey and most bad ones start with the first steps towards a conveyance, now you must head for the docks and your ship.  Before you do that though there are some matters that we must address, beginning with the synchronization requirements for this memory/mission and both the steps that we should take to re-supply and upgrade our kit and character, as well as some other aspects of the game relating to history and utility in equal parts.

== Synchronization Requirements ==

To obtain 100% Synchronization in this mission, Ezio must not use his bladed weapons on anyone; specifically Ezio can not use the sword, the dagger, the knife, the ax or any other primary or secondary weapon -- including the crossbow or even poison darts!  Throwing knives are therefore right out... So what does that leave?  Why, bombs of course!

Basically you have three choices here -- you can either (1) run like hell, and hopefully avoid any sort of confrontation at all, (2) use a Ninja-like stealth approach and hope to arrive at the destination unmolested through the use of blending, cover spots, and active Ninja-tools like smoke bombs and distraction, that sort of thing; or you can (3) come prepared, and use your bomb-crafting skills to make the sort of bombs that will assist you in dealing with both the Janissary and their more mundane comrades by making them dead without violating the rules under which you must temporarily operate...  

If you are opting for method (1) all you need to do is head to the marker, flag the mission, and then basically run like hell to the destination marker as quickly as you can manage.

If you are opting for either method (2) or (3) then prior to heading to the marker to begin this last mission in the sequence, you will first want to take the following steps:

(01) If for any reason you are not presently wearing the Master Assassin Armor, head to the Assassin's HQ and choose to wear it by clicking on the display in the trophy room;

(02) Make sure that your health is fully healed.  Visit the Doctor and purchase any supplies you will need and fill your medicine pouch -- if you have yet to purchase the Fast-Acting Poison upgrade do that now;

(03) Visit the Bomb-Crafting Table and make at least one Splinter Bomb -- ideally using the Sticky pouch -- one Smoke Bomb (using the impact fuse), and one Cherry Bomb (using the timed fuse), then use RB (or the table) to make as many of each as you can carry (which should be 4 of each if you have been upgrading your pouch properly), and remembering to replace them on-the-fly using RB as needed.

If you have not completed some of the key Faction Challenges and you feel up to it, you may want to do some of those now -- jump to that set of notes below if you so choose;

Wrapping up Sequence 06 in a Pillar of Flame

== Basic Kit Status Check and Upgrades ==

Since this is the final memory of Sequence 06 and as you are about to embark upon a rather brisk course of Sequences and Memories that will include optional and required upgrades and kit improvement now is a good time to bring everything else up to code so to speak...  So you may as well complete the following steps now, quickly, and get it out of the way:

(01) Visit the Bank and withdraw any funds in your vault to free it up;

(02) Visit the Bookseller and purchase any books you have not yet acquired -- you may not know this but the books that are included in the game are actually real (and historic) books. 

If you are a serious fan of the Assassin's Creed series, you will find that taking the time to read the Wiki pages for these books is actually a worthwhile and informative experience that can add depth and dimension to the story that is unfolding in the game... 

This is just a thought, but in case you like that idea check out "Appendix D: Interesting Bits and Pieces" at the end of this Walkthrough/Guide for the URL links as well as other interesting bits and pieces you may very well enjoy (and I certainly hope that you do!). 

At this point your personal library should contain the following books:

-- Aeneid (by Virgil)
-- Anabasis Alexandri (by Arrian)
-- The Book of Prophecies (by Christopher Columbus with Gaspar Gorricio)
-- Geography (by Claudius Ptolemy)
-- The Golden Ass (by Lucius Apuleius)
-- Heimskringla (by Snorri Sturluson)
-- The History of the Kings of Britain (by Geoffrey of Monmouth)
-- Metamorphoses (by Publius Ovidius Naso)
-- Mu'Allaqat (by various authors, compiled by Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Nahhas)
-- The Odyssey (by Homer)
-- Opus Majus (by Roger Bacon, O.F.M.)
-- Parallel Lives -- AKA Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans (by Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus)
-- Record of the Grand Historian (by Sima Qian)
-- The Secret History of the Mongols (by Anonymous)

(03) Visit the Blacksmith and make any weapon purchases that you feel you need to, any armor purchases, and upgrades.

(04) Pay a visit to Piri Reis and restock your bomb-crafting components just to be done with that.

--== Back to the Story ==--

Now assuming that you have squared all of the above away - and even if you have not - and assuming that you have decided how you intend to proceed through this mission and make it to the docks, we should be ready to go!  What I decided to do was make some Smoke Bombs for tactical use, and some Shrapnel Bombs with Sticky Pouches for strategic use, though I admit that this can present some logistical issues since we do not want to take out civilians...

When you reach the flag-point for the mission you encounter Yusuf who tells you that the Janissary have raised the chain that blocks the harbor and intend to keep it raised until you are caught!  He then hands you a package, and cautions you to be careful as it has fifty-times the kick of the usual bomb.  It seems you are going to need to take care of the chain!

Meeting with Clay Reveals Additional Information

As mentioned above, you cannot kill anyone with a blade, and that includes bolts or darts if you want to obtain 100% Synchronization -- which I know you do.  Since you will be switching between bombs you will want to change your weapon to hands in order to avoid an accident in which you kill with a blade...

Now just head for the marker on the map and remember not to kill anyone unless it is by bomb!  And using the bombs is easy all the way to the lighthouse -- where you plant the special bomb and blow the chain apart -- as well as the lighthouse!

But then things go more than a little sideways -- I don't know about you but I was NOT expecting this!  Greek Fire!  The harbor in flames!  Fighting your way through an unexpected enemy...  And yet making it to the ship was easy enough after all...

Meeting with Clay on Animus Beach

And after you arrive on the ship and it begins to leave the harbor we have another meeting with Clay and we have to confront a set of bad memories due to his probing.  Another Sequence ends and we get another set overheard conversations with the people who are out there in the real world.  As you listen you learn more about what has happened to you -- the bleeding effect, and more significant than that, why you are special.

Finishing the Sequence unlocks the Achievement "Successes and Failures" (20 GS) and wraps up another set of adventures.  Good on ya!