The Crocodile's Scales

The Crocodile's Scales was a virtual representation of one of Bayek's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan in 2017 through the Portable Animus HR-8.
==Description==
Bayek traveled to the Faiyum to meet with Apollodorus' informant, Hotephres, and uncover the identity of the Masked One known as the Crocodile.
==Dialogue==
Bayek rode to Soknopaiou Nesos.
*Bayek: And here I am, at last, in the Faiyum. I will root out the agents of the Crocodile.
*Crier: Culture for all! Greek and Egyptian knowledge joins in a new climate of restoration. The Faiyum is being raised above its humble beginnings. Guided by the principles of Greek civilization, Greece and Egypt live together in peace. Culture for all!Security for all! An increased military presence throughout the Faiyum has made life safer for everyone. Egyptian slums are being torn down, rebuilt, or segregated. Greek settlement is more secure than ever. Security for all!Trade activity has increased tremendously, creating substantial economic growth for Greek business throughout the Faiyum. Prosperity for all!Prosperity for all! Latest census figures show increased wealth for all in Faiyum. Thanks to the great Ptolemy's aid for Greek investors, profits have continued to multiply.Prosperity for all! With increased acquisition of Egyptian land and the use of Greek farming methods, farms in the Faiyum now have more success than ever! The new Faiyum promises peace and plenty. A new age of wealth under the guidance of Greek innovation! Prosperity for all!
Bayek entered Hotephres' bureau.
*Bayek: It seems I'm not the first visitor today.Hotephres! Nek (Shit), he's not here. I need to find out where my informant is.
Bayek came upon a slain dog.
*Bayek: Who would have done such a thing! What were you protecting, boy?
Bayek found several items lying on the floor.
*Bayek: A lot of damage, but no blood or signs of a fight. Maybe he fled before this happened? Hmm. These scrolls tell me nothing useful. I should check upstairs.
Bayek found a doll impaled with a spear.
*Bayek: A child's doll. I'm going to kill this neket iadet (piece of shit) Crocodile.
Bayek found a set of scrolls.
*Bayek: Scrolls and ink. Nothing that tells me where Hotephres has gone. Wait... feathers. From a messenger pigeon?
Bayek climbed to the top of the nearby pigeon coop to find a letter left behind by Hotephres.
*Bayek: A letter left behind by my informant. It looks like he fled, but the soldiers caught his servant. If the servant is still alive, he'll know where Hotephres is. They'll be holding him at the nearby military camp.
Bayek made his way to the Beached Trireme Camp and overheard two soldiers.
*Greek Soldier 1: What's the story with the beat up Egyptian? By the Captain's tent. He looks half dead.
*Greek Soldier 2: He's the servant of the Greek we're looking for. The Captain persuaded him to give up his master's location.He's not done yet, either. He'll eventually tell him everything else he knows.
He eventually found and freed the servant. He hoisted him onto his shoulders to carried him out of danger.
*Servant: Please... I've told you everything I know. Who are you?
*Bayek: A friend. Hold still and stay quiet. I will get you out of here.
*Servant: Gods. Thank you. Did Hotephres send you?
*Bayek: No, but I must find him. I need his help to find the Crocodile. Will you help me?
*Servant: Hotephres took a trader's ship to Lake Moeris. It has a large statue on board, and is marked by our symbol. The Crocodile has hired mercenaries to find him.
*Bayek: Then I must hurry. Get somewhere safe. Be well.
Bayek commandeered a nearby boat, sailing out onto the lake. He soon discovered Hotephres' vessel, finding him on the deck, among slain soldiers, sharpening his sword.
*Hotephres: So, now they send a son of Egypt against me? It has been a long time since I spilled so much blood.
Bayek drew out the badge of the Medjay.
*Bayek: I was sent by Apollodorus. We share a common interest.
Hotephres sheathed his blade, and sat down.
*Hotephres: Who are you and what do you want, eh?
*Bayek: I am Bayek of Siwa. And I seek information on the Crocodile.
*Hotephres: The phantom that has brought Faiyum to its knees? What could you want with him?
Hotephres rose, and the men gazed out across the lake.
*Bayek: He belongs to a group that is destroying Egypt. I intend to hunt every last one of them down.
As Hotephres spoke, Bayek saw a vision of the Crocodile looking over a group of soldiers and prisoners.
*Hotephres: Bayek of Siwa, you don't know what you are up against. The Crocodile has transformed not only the land, but the people: those who do not cower in fear, are made to work for him.
*Bayek: And you have no idea who the Crocodile is?
*Hotephres: I stole a ledger from a Greek magistrate I suspect of corruption. It should reveal the identity of this "Crocodile". And if we get it to Apollodorus, we may be able to bring down the whole organization.
Meanwhile, Hotephres' men cleared out the bodies from the deck.
*Bayek: Where's the ledger now?
*Hotephres: I gave it to my wife Khenut to hide. As long as the Ptolemies think it's with me, my family is safe. That is why I have to stay on the move.
Hotephres gave Bayek a doll.
*Hotephres: Here, this will tell Khenut you are a friend to be trusted. It is for my daughter Shadya. Once you have the ledger, find me at the docks, south of Euhemeria.Bayek, take a look around my ship before you go. I keep records of local problems which may have the Crocodile at their root. They may interest you, as a Medjay.
Bayek sailed to Euhemeria, and walked through the town.
*Egyptian Citizen: Greeks grow fatter and richer in Egypt while we go hungry. The poor are taxed more than the rich. Why is this happening? This is our home. Egypt belongs to us!Prosperity for all, they say. Well, where is it? Where are the benefits, the peace of mind? It is all with the Greeks! It is not for Egyptians! The new laws are made by Greeks for Greeks.Prosperity for all? There is no grain. They have burned our farms and driven us out. Where will we get our food? We know what Greek prosperity means! Famine for Egypt!Our Faiyum, our home, is now a place where there are Greek-only stalls. These neked iadet will not even serve Egyptians!
Approaching an alms kitchen, Bayek saw Khenut.
*Khenut: We need to clean this place up and get it running again. Don't worry. I won't let them close down this kitchen.
Bayek walked up to her.
*Bayek: Khenut?
*Khenut: Yes?
*Bayek: Hotephres sent me. I am here to help. And I have your daughter's doll.
*Khenut: Great. I was awaiting word from my man. Thank you, come, eat and we can talk.
thumb|250px|Bayek meeting Shadya, Hotephres' daughter.
As Khenut gave food to the nearby people, Bayek knelt and handed Shadya her doll.
*Shadya: Oh, I love my new doll, Bayek! I will name her... Iset and she will be the protector of all Faiyum.
Shadya kissed Bayek with the doll, then danced away. Khenut approached him.
*Khenut: Ever since Hotephres got a hold of that ledger, Faiyum has been on edge. Soldiers with torches patrol every night. And this alms kitchen was practically razed to the ground. They have left Shadya and me alone, at least. Hotephres has made sure of that.
*Bayek: Where is the ledger now?
*Khenut: I instructed our most loyal servant to hide it in our villa. They can search the place as many times as they want. They will never find it.
*Bayek: Can you take me there?
*Khenut: I have been summoned to the lighthouse for another of their "routine investigations".
*Bayek: That may not be safe. The Ptolemaic authorities seem to be working with the Crocodile.
*Khenut: It happens every few days. Don't worry. They wouldn't dare touch someone in an official position.Shadya, show Bayek the way to our home.
thumb|250px|Khenut, Hotephres' wife, talking to Bayek about the ledger.
Shadya stopped her dance and jumped at the request.
*Shadya: Come on, uncle Bayek! You can see my house from that roof. Follow me! You are not afraid of heights, are you?
*Bayek: Lead on, little one. I will follow.
Bayek followed Shadya, climbing up a network of ladders.
*Shadya: Haha! Where did you learn to climb like that? That looks like fun!
*Bayek: (Chuckles)
They reached a covered terrace, with toys and pillows.
*Shadya: I come up here a lot. Everything looks so beautiful. The people should be happy, but they are not.
Bayek knelt in front of Shadya, looking at her.
*Bayek: Don't worry. Your mother and father will look after them. Where is your house?
*Shadya: On the hill over there! See it?
*Bayek: Yes... and soldiers.Thank you, Shadya. You should go back to your mother now. It might get dangerous.
*Shadya: Nothing bad will ever happen to me! Iset can fight, you know! She will protect me!
Shadya ran off, back to the kitchen, singing.
*Bayek: Bye, Shadya! You and Iset enjoy your life!
Before leaving her place, Bayek noticed a set of scrolls on a small table in a corner and examined them.
Bayek descended from the rooftop to the villa in the distance, making his way around the perimeter and eventually inside.
He overhead soldiers discussing.
*Soldier 1: Where is it? They said it would be here!
*Soldier 2: Did we find the ledger?
*Soldier 3: Not yet, but it won't be long. The captain is upstairs questioning the servant.
*Soldier 2: Stupid Egyptian vlakos (bumpkins). Khenut is a marked woman. Loyalty to her will get them killed.
Bayek investigated what he could uncover along the way. He found scrolls by the villa's entrance.
*Bayek: Maps of settlements in the Faiyum, part of Khenut's work. Interesting, but not what I'm looking for.
Up the steps, scrolls sitting on a stone railing.
*Bayek: Complaints to Alexandria about the administration's practices in Faiyum, from Khenut. She didn't have much success. No ledger.
Bayek tried to open the house's front door.
*Bayek: It won't open. There's something blocking it on the other side. There must be another way in.
Bayek went around the back and found a doll.
*Bayek: Another of Shadya's dolls. Did Hotephres make this one, too?
Nearby on a stone bench is a letter.
*Bayek: An unfinished letter to the Sobek priests. Scathing. Khenut and the Cult don't see eye to eye. Nothing else here.
Bayek then went inside the house and found servants lying dead around. He saw what blocked the doors.
*Bayek: Servants tried to barricade the doors. They weren't quick enough.
He found Shadya's diary on the floor and read a passage.
*Bayek: Gods! Shadya wrote this. She has the ledger! And I sent her back to her mother! I have to find Khenut before the soldiers get to her!Oh, Shadya! What have you done, little one? You cannot play games with the Crocodile!
Bayek raced back to the alms kitchen, where only one of the workers could be found.
*Bayek: Have you seen Khenut? Is she here?
*Worker: The soldiers just came and took her to the Lighthouse. Young Shadya, too! Khenut argued with them but they would not listen. Something is wrong, isn't it? This has never happened before.
*Bayek: Get word to Hotephres. Hurry!Damn all this! Khenut and Shadya are at the Lighthouse! I need to get there now! Nek (Shit)!... Nek (Shit)!
Bayek made his way quickly to the lighthouse.
*Soldier 3: What have we done? Gods! What have we done?!
*Soldier 4: Easy, brother. The Crocodile did this, not you or me. Surely... it must have been necessary.
*Soldier 3: Say that when the nightmares come! We watched and did nothing. We are not innocent.
thumb|250px|Khenut weeping her daughter's name.
Bayek approached the dock, where Khenut knelt, weeping.
*Khenut: Shadya... Shadya...
With Khenut inconsolable, Bayek made his way down the lake in the direction Khenut faced. Diving within, he found Shadya bound at the ankles, attached to a tether sunk within the lakebed. She was dead, her doll in her hand. Bayek resurfaced, and consoled Khenut on the raft. A while later, Khenut was cradling Shadya's wrapped body on the raft, humming. Hotephres talked with Bayek on the pier, cradling Shadya's doll.
*Hotephres: It is over. The Crocodile has won. The ledger, lost. My daughter... my Shadya... He has taken everything from us.
*Bayek: He will pay for this. And all those who serve him.
*Hotephres: None of that will bring Shadya back.
*Bayek: No. But at least you'll have the comfort of revenge. We both will.
*Hotephres: I hope so. I will do anything I can to help you, brother.
*Bayek: Has Khenut been able to tell you anything?
*Hotephres: Only that there were other men with the soldiers. Large, imposing warriors. One red-haired.
*Bayek: Bandits? Soldiers?
*Hotephres: I believe they were gladiators, from the arena in Krokodilopolis. It seems this... this monster uses fighters to do his bidding.
*Bayek: I will find this monster, friend. He will die.
Hotephres shook Bayek's hand before leaving with his wife and daughter on a boat. Hotephres gave the doll to Khenut as he slowly rowed the boat away towards the river.
==Outcome==
Though Bayek was able to locate Hotephres, the ledger containing the desired information had been taken by Hotephres's daughter, Shadya. Before Bayek could rescue her, the child was captured and summarily killed. Despite this, Bayek uncovered that the Crocodile was connected to the gladiators of Krokodilopolis.
==Gallery==
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 2.png|Bayek on the 2nd floor of the bureau
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 19.png|Bayek finding Khenut kneeling by the docks
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 5.png|Bayek asking the servant for Hotephres' location
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 11.png|Bayek meeting Shadya while Khenut was busy with her workers
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 13.png|Shadya giving Bayek a "kiss" through her new doll
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 15.png|Bayek following Shadya to her residence
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 18.png|A kitcher worker informing Bayek of what transpired
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 21.png|Bayek finding Shadya's body under the lake
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 22.png|Khenut weeping over her daughter's death
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 27.jpg|Khenut cradling Shadya's body
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 24.png|Bayek and Hotephres discussing The Crocodile
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 25.png|Bayek assuring Hotephres that his daughter will be avenged
==References==
*Assassin's Creed: Origins
Category:Memories of Bayek
Category:Memories relived using the Animus HR-8
fr:Les écailles du Crocodile