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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!
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 1

Bayek investigating the ransacked bureau

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?
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 3

Bayek at the pigeon coop

Bayek climbed to the top of the nearby pigeon coop to find a letter left behind by Hotephres.

Letter left behind by Hotephres

The Crocodile knows who I am. One of my servants has already been arrested by soldiers on false charges and taken to the nearby military camp. Ok Crocodile, let's dance. If you so desperately want to cross swords with me, you'll have to catch me...
  • 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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 4

Bayek finding Hotephres' servants

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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 6

Hotephres meeting Bayek

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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 9

Hotephres handing Bayek a doll meant for his daughter Shadya

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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 10

Bayek meeting Khenut at the 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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 12

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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 14

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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 16

Bayek and Shadya overlooking the villa.

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.

Shadya's Scrolls

Documents covering a wide range of subjects, from the minutia of agriculture to Alexandrian court etiquette. Likely given to Shadya for study. A number of cats and other small animals have been playfully scrawled along the edges.

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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 17

Bayek finding a scroll from Shadya

He found Shadya's diary on the floor and read a passage.

Shadya's Diary

I wish father would come home. I miss him. I want to show him my new doll. But I have an idea. I heard mother say we have to hide these scrolls for him. So I'm going to help! If I take them with me, father won't have to worry about them, and he can come back home.
  • 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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 20

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.

ACO The Crocodile's Scales 23

Khenut holding her deceased daughter

  • 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.
ACO The Crocodile's Scales 26

Hotephres and Khenut departing with Shadya's body to give her their last goodbye

  • 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[]

References[]

Assassin's Creed: Origins memories
Main Quests
The Heron Assassination - Homecoming - The Oasis - The False Oracle - May Amun Walk Beside You - Aya - Gennadios the Phylakitai - End of the Snake - Egypt's Medjay - The Scarab's Sting - The Scarab's Lies - Pompeius Magnus - The Hyena - The Lizard's Mask - The Lizard's Face - The Crocodile's Scales - The Crocodile's Jaws - Way of the Gabiniani - Aya: Blade of the Goddess - The Battle of the Nile - The Aftermath - The Final Weighing - Last of the Medjay - Fall of an Empire, Rise of Another - Birth of the Creed
Side Quests
Special
A Gift from the Gods - Incoming Threat - Here Comes a New Challenger - Phylakes' Prey - Lights Among the Dunes - Secrets of the First Pyramids
Siwa
Gear Up - Family Reunion - Water Rats - Hideaway - Striking the Anvil - The Healer - Prisoners in the Temple - Bayek's Promise
Lake Mareotis
Hidden Tax - The Book of the Dead - Ambush in the Temple - Ulterior Votive - Lady of Slaughter - Birthright - Taste of her Sting
Alexandria
The Accidental Philosopher - The Last Bodyguard - Higher Education - Serapis Unites - A Tithe By Any Other Name - The Shifty Scribe - The Odyssey - Wrath of the Poets - Symposiasts - Phylakitai in the Eye - Cat's Cradle
Kanopos
Old Times - Wild Ride - Blue Hooligans - The Weasel - The Hungry River
Sap-Meh Nome
In Protest - Thick Skin - Fair Trade
Sapi-Res Nome
Conflicts of Interest - Smoke Over Water - All Eyes on Us - Lost Happiness - Abuse of Power - The Tax Master - The Ostrich - New Kid in Town - Worker's Lament - The Old Library
Giza
The Planetarium - Precious Bonds - What's Yours Is Mine - A Gift from the Gods
Memphis
A Dream of Ashes - Blood in the Water - Odor Most Foul - Children of the Streets - Taimhotep's Song - The Baker's Dilemma - Mortem Romanum
Saqqara Nome
Rites of Anubis - First Blood - When Night Falls - A Rebel Alliance
Faiyum
Murder in the Temple - Feeding Faiyum - Curse of Wadjet - Rebel Strike - The Bride - Sobek's Gold - Forging Siwa - The Sickness - Fires of Dionysias - Demons in the Desert
Faiyum Oasis
The Champion - The Man Beast - Sobek's Tears - The Jaws of Sobek - Bad Faith - Shadya's Rest - Fighting for Faiyum
Herakleion Nome
Recon Work - Loose Cargo - Reunion - Predator to Prey
Uab Nome
Seven Farmers
Atef-Pehu Nome
The Matriarch
Green Mountains
Unseeing Eyes - One Bad Apple - The Good Roman - Playing with Fire - Taking Liberty - Halo of the Huntress - Carpe Diem - Shadows of Apollo
Marmarica
His Secret Service
Kyrenaika
The Flea of Cyrene - The Lure of Glory - The Mousetrap - Founding Father - Pax Romana - Cat and Mouse - Absolute Power - Are You Not Entertained? - The Smugglers of Cyrene - Dead in the Water - My Brother for a Horse - Here Comes a New Challenger
Isolated Desert
Plight of the Rebels
Event Quests
Antique Trafficking - Bandit Raid - Control Nuisance - Gather Materials - Lost and Found - Missing Worker - Stolen Goods - Recover the Merchandise
DLC
Ambush At Sea - Secrets of the First Pyramids
The Hidden Ones
Main Quests
The Hidden Ones - The Land of Turquoise - Where the Slaves Die - The Walls of the Ruler - The Setting Sun - No Chains Too Thick - Sic Semper Tyrannis - The Greater Good
Side Quests
Klysma Nome
Rise of Shaqilat - Howls of the Dead - The Ballad of Si-Mut and Gertha - The Killer Shadow - Shadows of the Scarab
Madiama Nome
Respect Thy Brother
Arsinoe Nome
Shards from a Star
The Curse of the Pharaohs
Main Quests
The Curse of the Pharaohs - No Honor Amongst Thebes - The Lady of Grace - Cleansing Rite - Something Rotten - Soured Libations - Aten Rising - The Heretic - Blood in the Water - The King of Kings - A Pharaoh's Shadow - A Pharaoh's Heart and Name - A Pharaoh's Hemset - A Pharaoh's Ka
Side Quests
Thebes
The Theban Triad - Master of the Secret Things - Perchance to Dream
Theban Necropolis
Burnt Offerings - A Sister's Vow - Idol Hands - Drowned Tools - A Motherless Child - Unfair Trade
Thebes Nome
Crocodile Tears - National Treasures
Yebu Nome
Losers Weepers - Fish Out Of Water - Laid to Rest
Aaru
Love or Duty
Aten
Gods or Creed - The Cat - The Ibis - The Hawk
Heb Sed
Follower or Leader
Duat
Shield or Blade - A Necessary Evil - Khepri's Amulet - The God's Spark
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