The Raid

*Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light...**This article is about The Dark Pictures Anthology's third installment,* ***House of Ashes***
***.***

## Theatrical Cut

### Time(s)

1753 HRS
1815 HRS
1846 HRS

### Location(s)

Badra-Mandali
Zagros Mountains
Target LZ

## Curator's Cut

### Time(s)

1753 HRS
1815 HRS
1846 HRS

### Location(s)

Badra-Mandali
Zagros Mountains
Target LZ

## Chapter Guide

**The Raid** is the second chapter of Act 1 in *House of Ashes* and the third overall.

The player controls Salim and Jason as the Americans and the Iraqis head into battle.

## *Badra-Mandali, 1753 HRS*

A view of the town is shown as a whistling Salim approaches his house with a present in his hand. Upon entering the house, Salim calls out his son Zain that he has come back home. As he puts down the present and his rifle, he is confused that Zain is not in the house. While searching the house in search of his son, Salim can find:

* The tag on the present.
* A letter to Zain from Highgate University. On the back side of the letter is written Salim's congratulations to his son on entering the university.
* A broken photo of him and Zain, with his wife on the folded side on the back.

Upon entering Zain's room, Salim can find:

* A book on Mesopotamian Mythology.
* A map of Ireland and the UK with mythological locations noted.
* A box of stolen goods under the bed (This will progress the story).

After finding the goods under Zain's bed, Salim gets angry and try to call his neighbor through the phone. Salim then asks the neighbor if Zain is with her son Tariq. The neighbor claims that they took the bus into town some time ago, before asking if anything's alright. Salim can reply neighbor that Zain has stolen some goods or claim that today is his birthday, and then asks her to send Zain home when they return.

As Salim hangs up the phone, he notices a patrol truck passing by, much to his rage. He leaves the house and meets with Captain Dar, who is accompanied by an Iraqi soldier in contact with those tracking the helicopters. Dar tells Salim that the Americans fly in and try to invade their country. Salim tells Dar that the war is over and they lost before Dar says that their country didn't lose and there is no such thing as surrender. Dar tells Salim that they need every soldiers nearby. Salim can be compliant to Dar or tell him that he needs to find his son (Choosing the latter will cause Dar to say that this is an obligation), but in any case he will return to the house to grab his rifle as he looks back to the present, saying that he will come back. As they approach the truck, Salim tells Dar that he won't do this anymore after the battle.

## *Zagros Mountains, 1815 HRS*

Three helicopters are flying in the mountains as Jason informs the operator that they are approaching the target and are ready for operation. Joey and Merwin exchange a few dirty jokes, after which Rachel tells them to focus on the mission. Merwin is rude to her with another dirty joke, to which Rachel roasts him, much to Joey's laughter and Merwin's anger. Jason asks Nick to establish contacts, but he doesn't respond. Jason comes up to him and can ask if everything is all right or if he can count on Nick. He can talk to Nick about his inattentiveness.

* If Jason chooses the *Concerned* and *Curious* options, Nick will tell him that he's been seeing Rachel.

Regardless, they say the phrase "Semper Fi", which interests Clarice. Joey explains to her that it's a marine thing and that they have a boat load superstitions. He tells Clarice one of the superstitions, to which she replies that is one of the stupidest things she has ever heard. The red light turns on and Jason encourages the group to get ready, after which all the marines shout a battle cry. At the same time, they are followed by the Iraqis in a patrol truck.

## *Target LZ, 1846 HRS*

* Theatrical Cut
* Curator's Cut

A compound is seen as the helicopters land nearby. The soldiers walk out of the helicopters. Merwin then points back, making Joey look behind, much to the latter's anger. All the soldiers are seen approaching the compound as the helicopters fly away. One of the shepherds notices them and starts alerting the others. Nick asks Jason for orders. Jason can then lead the team to assault the building or approach it without rush.

* If they decide to assault the building, the soldiers move forward to the first building. Nick throws in a flashbang before the soldiers infiltrate the building. Jason can complete a QTE to shoot at one of the shepherds.
	+ If he shoots the shepherd, the shepherd dies.
	+ If he doesn't, he will threaten the shepherd and ask Joey to arrest him.
* If they decide to approach it without rush, the soldiers will walk towards the building. Rachel from the helicopter asks the shepherds to walk out of the building in Arabic. Nick and Joey then command the shepherds to lay down.
* If Jason says nothing, Nick asks him for order. Without any answers, Nick decides to lead the team and the scene then plays out the same like as if they approach the building without rush.

After the first building is cleared, three other marines breach in the second building. The compound is secured. Nick then reports to Jason about the captives before Jason commands him to give a signal to the colonel.

Eric, Rachel, and Clarice make their way to the building. Nick then walks outside the building.

* If Jason previously said nothing, Nick tells Jason that he hesitated. Nick then asks if Jason was thinking about the checkpoint.

Nick then tells Jason that the people are not hostiles and are just shepherds. Jason then approach the trio to have a conversation. Eric asks Jason for a sitrep.

* If the team previously assaulted the building and shot the shepherd, Jason will say that there's a minimal casualty. Rachel asks Jason how minimal, before Jason answering "one". Rachel asks if the casualty was a hostile or a civilian, before Jason saying that they didn't have time to introduce.
* If the team previously approached without rush or assaulted the building, but didn't shoot the shepherd, Jason will say that no shot is fired, the farm is secured, and captives are being processed, much to Rachel's surprise.

Eric then asks about the weapon silo entrance. Jason then claims that it's well-camouflaged if there is one. Eric questions Jason about the meaning of his sentence. Jason can be respectful or skeptical.

* If Jason is respectful...
	+ If there is a casualty, Eric will praise Jason.
	+ If there are no casualties, Eric will say that Jason took the risk to give up the element of surprise, but it paid off nevertheless and praise him. Eric then says that any holdout Iraqis might be on high alert, much to Jason's confidence.
* If Jason is skeptical...
	+ If there is a casualty, Eric will ask Jason if it couldn't be a cover. Rachel will scold him for shooting an innocent man.
	+ If there are no casualties, Eric will ask Jason if it couldn't be a cover. Rachel however will say that Jason did the right thing for not harming them.

Approaching the building, Merwin walks outside. Rachel then asks Merwin if they're ready to be questioned, only for the latter to make a dirty joke. As they head inside the building, Clarice claims that the place gives her a bad feeling. Merwin then antagonizes her, much to Clarice's anger.

* If Jason shot the shepherd, Rachel will see his body. She will become mad, but she claims that they can use this to advantage.

The shepherds are seen staying down. Rachel then questions them about the silo. They don't answer, much to Jason's impatience. He can then be foreboding or impatient.

* If Jason is foreboding...
	+ If Jason shot the shepherd, Rachel will drag the shepherd and make him look at another dead shepherd, saying that they've shown how serious they are. As Rachel asks them where is the weapon silo, the shepherd replies that there is no weapon silo here, but Rachel doesn't believe them. The shepherd then tells Rachel that they'll pay for disturbing their land. When Rachel asks how they'll pay it, the shepherd laughs.
	+ If Jason didn't shoot the shepherd, Rachel asks Jason to standby. Rachel then asks where the weapon silo is.
* If Jason is impatient...
	+ If Jason shot the shepherd, Rachel tells Jason that he's done enough. Rachel then asks where the weapon silo is.
	+ If Jason didn't shoot the shepherd, Rachel asks Jason to standby. Rachel then asks where the weapon silo is.

The shepherd then focuses onto some effigies hanging inside the room. Rachel asks the purpose of them, only for the shepherd to answer that she'll find out. Jason approaches it and can be enraged or curious.

* If Jason chooses to be enraged, he will vandalize the effigies. If they didn't assault the building or did but didn't kill the shepherd, one of them will attack Jason, only to be shot by Rachel. She then scolds the marines for not checking the building properly.
* If Jason chooses to be curious, he will pick one of them, unlocking the Pagan Effigy secret. He then accidentally injures his finger with the effigy.

Rachel and Jason decide to head outside the room and go to the other. In the other room, a shepherd is found armed by one of the marines.

* If Rachel previously shot the shepherd, Jason will apologize for the inconvenience, but also compliment Rachel for her shooting skills.

Rachel talks with the shepherd, before the shepherd spits at her face. Jason can use his rifle to hit the shepherd in the back.

* If Jason hits the shepherd, Rachel scolds Jason. Jason says that violence is the only language the shepherds understand. This will decrease their relationship.
* If Jason doesn't hit the shepherd, Rachel threatens the shepherd.

Rachel then heads outside the room. In this room, Jason can find a picture. Outside the building in the field, Jason can talk to Joey about superstitions and Nick about the mission before heading inside the second building. In one of the rooms, Jason can find a secret. Inside a room full of shepherds, Rachel threatens them saying that they are in deep trouble, before asking where the silo is. One of them looks to a carpet. Jason then moves aside the carpet, revealing a wooden hatch door. They then check what's inside, only to find drugs. Rachel then claims that the people are just common crooks and becomes mad at Eric.

Helicopters are seen landing near the compound as the Iraqi soldiers view them from a ridge. Dar then commands the group to spread out before going into prone position to not be seen. Salim will then claim that they are outnumbered, but Dar says that this mission will reward them greatly. Salim can then be worried or playful. If the former is chosen, Dar says that Salim must fight if he wants to go back to his son. Salim can then be defiant or apprehensive. Dar hands Salim a pair of binoculars, and Salim can look around the farm and see:

* Eric and Nick with two soldiers having a conversation. Dar says that he has never seen those soldiers and Salim suggests that they are special forces.
* Merwin guarding a shepherd. Dar questions what the Americans want with them.
* A hole in the roof of one of the huts. Dar says the Americans will pay for their actions.
* Clarice. Dar questions why a woman is present and Salim suggests she is a civilian.
* A soldier in front of two shepherds lying down. Dar is enraged by the scene.
* Joey in the yard. Salim points out that he is a lookout and Dar says they will hit him first.
* A truck.

After viewing for a period of time, Salim puts down the binoculars and the two wonder if Saddam is in the compound and the shepherds know his whereabouts. They see a helicopter flying by and Dar takes out a rocket launcher. Dar hands Salim the rocket launcher to shoot at the helicopter. Salim can be worried or compliant. Dar then directs him to shoot the helicopter. Salim can either be defiant or compliant. Regardless, Salim can complete a QTE to shoot the helicopter. If he does not, Dar takes it from him and does it himself.
A helicopter is seen shot by a rocket launcher before falling down leading to a crash. Gunshots are seen fired from the Iraqi side, wounding Joey. As the Iraqi soldiers continuously shoot at the Americans, the Americans decide to take some cover, while a marine is seen shot by the Iraqis.

* Theatrical Cut
* Curator's Cut

Jason rushes outside the building, taking cover behind the walls. Jason commands the soldiers to shoot at the Iraqis on the ridge. Jason can complete a QTE to shoot at the ridge.

* If Jason completes the QTE, the soldiers on the ridge will be stunned, allowing some marines to take cover in time.
* if Jason fails the QTE, the soldiers on the ridge won't be stunned, allowing them to shoot a marine to death.

Merwin then rushes to Jason and Nick taking cover behind some stone walls. A helicopter is seen firing at the ridge far away. Eric searches for Rachel. As she tries to go outside, she is almost shot whom Merwin asks her to stay back. Dar then commands Salim and other soldiers to charge to the compound. The Iraqi soldiers are seen approaching, only for Merwin to shoot one of them. Jason then makes a plan with Nick about saving Joey. He can then complete a QTE to shoot at one of the soldiers.

* If Eric disapproved the allowance of using WPs, Merwin will yell to Jason about not bringing them. Jason claims that an order is an order. He can then complete a QTE to shoot another soldier.
* If Eric approved the allowance of using WPs, Merwin suggests to Jason to use WPs on the soldiers. Nick then tells Merwin that it's immoral, but Merwin doesn't listen. Jason can decide to use them or not.
	+ If he allows Merwin to use it, Merwin will load one of them. He then shoot it at one of the Iraqi soldiers, before a white smoke appears, burning the soldiers around.
	+ If he doesn't allows Merwin to use it, Merwin will be mad. Jason can then complete a QTE to shoot another soldier.
	+ If he says nothing, Merwin considers Jason's silence as an allowance. He then does the same thing like as if Jason allowed it.

Nick then asks Jason to cover him as he wants to save Joey. Jason will then have to complete several QTEs to get Joey evacuated safely.

* If Jason completes QTEs to defend Nick, Nick will then save Joey and take cover behind a tractor. Joey is then seen died from blood loss as Nick holds him in his hands.
* If Jason fails QTEs to defend Nick, the Iraqi soldier will shoot Joey to death. Merwin will then become enraged and shoot the soldier with a grenade launcher from his rifle. He will use WP if WPs were allowed on the mission.

Eric is seen commanding two marines to shoot back. Eric then asks all callsigns if someone can give him a sitrep over the contact. One of the pilots whose callsign is Killjoy Two claims that their helicopter is going down and the targets have advanced towards the LZ. Eric is then frustrated from this, before he is shaken by an earthquake.

As the firefight ensues, Dar laughs at the Americans being attacked. A helicopter is seen shooting at the Iraqi patrol. Salim must complete a QTE to save one of the soldiers, otherwise one soldier will be killed. Eric searches for Rachel. As she tries to go outside, she is almost shot whom Merwin asks her to stay back. The helicopter flies away as the Iraqis shoot at it. Salim asks Dar that the group should retreat, but Dar says that they should push forward. Dar then commands Salim and other soldiers to charge to the compound.

The Iraqi soldiers are seen approaching. One of the marines shoot at an Iraqi soldier. Salim can complete a QTE to shoot at the marine, otherwise the marine will shoot again, killing the Iraqi soldier. Merwin is then seen shooting the approaching soldiers, killing one of them. Salim meets up with Dar while taking cover. Salim asks for a plan. Dar then commands the soldiers to attack the Americans since they are weaken. Salim claims this is suicide while Dar claims this is glory. Salim can be defiant or zealous.

* If Salim is zealous, he will yell "*For Iraq*" before having to complete a QTE to shoot a marine in the window. Regardless, Salim must complete a QTE to avoid a grenade (no consequences in failure).
* If Salim is defiant, he will tell Dar about his son, Dar mocks his son for being a stoner and a thief. Salim can be enraged or disapprove him.
	+ If Salim disapproved Dar, telling him to rethink the shooting, he then must complete a QTE to avoid a grenade (no consequences in failure).
	+ If Salim was enraged at Dar, he will dare him to say his son's name, then try to walk away, only for Dar to punch him. He can then complete QTEs while brawling with Dar in a fistfight.
		- If Salim completes QTEs, he will beat Dar, put him on the ground, and raise his fist, only for a grenade to separate them both.
		- If Salim fails QTEs, Dar will beat him, put him on the ground, and point a gun at him, only for a grenade to separate them both.
* If Salim says nothing, the mentioned brawl scene will happen.

Eric is seen commanding two marines to shoot back. Eric then asks all callsigns if someone can give him a sitrep over the contact. One of the pilots whose callsign is Killjoy Two claims that their helicopter is going down and the targets have advanced into the LZ. Eric is then frustrated from this, before he is shaken by an earthquake. Salim is separated by Dar, before seeing his comrades slaughtered by the Americans.
Jason runs away from the firefight, only to meet a shepherd standing on the ground. Jason then threatens the shepherd, only for the latter to run away. Jason can complete a QTE to shoot the shepherd.

* If Jason completes the QTE, the shepherd will be shot to death.
* If Jason fails the QTE, he will be angered how the shepherd didn't listen to him.

Salim then aims at Jason from the back. Jason taunts at Salim as he stares into him. Salim can decide to shoot Jason or not.

* If Salim chooses to shoot Jason (which he does in singleplayer Theatrical Cut if Jason shot the shepherd and agreed to use White Phosphorus against the Iraqis), Salim shoots wildly while the ground shakes and a bullet catches Jason's shoulder, injuring him and affecting the Blood bearing.
* If Salim doesn't shoot Jason lowers his weapon, saying "no more killing". As they look at each other, both of them are shaken by the earthquake.

The ground is seen fractured from different viewpoint. If Joey was shot to death before being rescued, his body is shown being plunged underground. Merwin tries to avoid the holes, only for him to fall into one. Eric searches for Rachel, but accidentally stands on a hole that is about to open, dropping him. The hole below Jason and Salim opens up, plunging them both into the caves below. The chapter ends with a view from above the compound, now full of holes opening up.

## Collectibles

### Secrets

* Mythology Book - In Salim's home, on a desk in Zain's room.
* Pagan Effigy - In the first building, when looking at the effigies, Jason must choose the curious option to unlock this secret. (Theatrical Cut)
* Gas Mask - Inside the room on the left side as Jason enters the second building. (Theatrical Cut)

### Pictures

* Disarmed - Inside the room where Rachel talked with the armed shepherd in the first building. (Theatrical Cut)

## Deaths

### Inevitable

* Numerous American soldiers - Shot by Iraqi soldiers.
* Numerous Iraqi soldiers - Shot or blown up by American soldiers.
* Two American pilots - Shot down by Iraqi soldiers.

Joey

* If Jason completes enough QTEs to cover for Nick, Nick will successfully evacuate Joey, only for him to die of blood loss. (Theatrical Cut)
* If Jason fails too many QTEs to cover for Nick, an Iraqi soldier will spray Joey with gunfire. (Theatrical Cut)

### Determinant

Two shepherds

* If Jason orders the marines to assault the building, he is able to shoot a shepherd. (Theatrical Cut)
* If Jason is enraged about the effigies and did not previously shoot a shepherd, one shepherd tries to attack him and Rachel shoots him. (Theatrical Cut)
* Jason can shoot a shepherd toward the end of the firefight. (Theatrical Cut)

## Trivia

* If Nick tells Jason that he is seeing Rachel while in the helicopter, an additional conversation will happen in Bloodbath while also changing some dialogue.
* In Shared Story, the first and second segment are played by separate players at the same time.
* This is the only chapter in the anthology that changes in Movie Night, as both Cuts in the third segment of the chapter are played regardless of Cut. The third segment starts with Jason's view, switches to Salim's view after Jason and Rachel uncover the stash of heroin, switches back to Jason's view after the grenade is thrown at Salim and Dar, and switches back to Salim's view after Jason either shoots or spares the shepherd.