Image source: Ubisoft
Ever since Basim’s enigmatic departure from Eivor and his brother in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, it was evident that his backstory held secrets of profound significance. As it turns out, Basim is the reincarnation of the God of Mischief, and this revelation is integral to understanding the story and ending of Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Basim’s character arc is shrouded in mystery, so this AC Mirage story summary aims to break down the game’s plot and its enigmatic ending in detail.
Editor’s note: It should come as no surprise that this feature is laden with significant spoilers for AC Mirage. If you’re here, you likely anticipated that, so let’s delve into the narrative’s depths.
AC Mirage Story Summary & Plot, Explained
Originally conceived as a DLC and later evolved into a standalone game, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is set in 861 CE, nearly a dozen years prior to the events of AC Valhalla. The story revolves around Basim Ibn Ishaq, a young thief in the city of Anbar. Basim’s journey commences much like many other protagonists in the series, with an adventurous spirit marred by recklessness.
After some minor heists in the city, Basim seizes an opportunity to impress Roshan, a member of the Assassins, or Hidden Ones as they were known during this era. Defying his boss’s warnings, Basim, aided by his best friend Nehal, seeks to assist this enigmatic order.
Their foray into the castle reveals masked figures entrusting the Calipha with the protection of a mysterious chest coveted by the Hidden Ones. While attempting to pilfer the chest, Basim unwittingly opens it, revealing an Isu artifact. This act triggers visions for Basim and Nehal, disorienting them and allowing the Calipha to attack Basim. Nehal intervenes, saving Basim.
Wanted by the Caliphate, they return to their hideout, only to discover their friends’ lifeless bodies. Nehal persuades Basim to escape rather than seek vengeance. While attempting to flee, guards intercept him, but just as his fate seems sealed, Roshan, the very Hidden One he yearned to impress, saves him and offers him a place among their ranks. This marks the beginning of Basim’s journey to Alamut, his new home.
After months of training, Basim joins the Hidden Ones and is assigned the task of eliminating the masked Order of The Ancients. However, as he dispatches his targets, he begins to experience peculiar visions of a Jinni, a recurring element from the game’s outset. Basim’s internal turmoil deepens, as these visions make him question his identity as a Hidden One. Frustration grows as he discovers that his destiny does not align with the path he had envisioned for himself within the organization. This realization prompts him to view the assassinations as a means to unearth the truth rather than just serving the order’s interests.
Qabiha and Nehal: Unraveling the Connection
During one of his final assassination missions, Basim encounters a woman named Qabiha, the widow of Al-Mutawakkil, the Calipha slain by Nehal at the beginning of the Assassin’s Creed Mirage story. Qabiha is also the head of The Order in Baghdad. Surprisingly, she shows little interest in Basim’s role in her husband’s demise. Instead, she seeks to understand the symbols Basim witnessed, as her son was present when Basim opened the mysterious chest.
As the leader of The Order, Qabiha possesses extensive knowledge of the Isu artifacts. Basim, instead of executing her, chooses to listen to Qabiha, who reveals that beneath the Alamut castle of The Hidden Ones lies a machine capable of unveiling the truth about his past and the origins of his visions.
AC Mirage Ending & Basim’s Isu Heritage
Before Qabiha can divulge more information and lead Basim to this enigmatic location, Roshan, the master Assassin, coldly eliminates her. Roshan warns Basim that pursuing the revelations Qabiha offered will lead to his demise at her hands. Unfazed by Roshan’s threat, Basim ignores her orders and, accompanied by Nehal, embarks on a journey to Alamut.
At Alamut, Basim finally confronts Roshan and, subsequently, reaches his ultimate destination. Here, he learns that his blood is the key to accessing the secret place Qabiha alluded to—a repository of Isu technology.
The pivotal revelation occurs when Basim finds Nehal ensnared within the machine. Nehal, his constant companion, is not what she seems; rather, she is the manifestation of Loki, the God of Mischief and an Isu entity. Basim’s mind conjured her to justify certain actions, such as the assassination of the Calipha.
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Assassin’s Creed Mirage Might Be a Nostalgia Trip Too Far
With Nehal’s true nature exposed, Basim’s perspective shifts, and he begins to comprehend the Isu holograms. These holograms depict the imprisonment and punishment of one individual by another. This revelation culminates in the realization that Nehal, the manifestation of Loki, never truly existed as a human. Basim’s internal battle intensifies as he succumbs to Loki’s dominance. This sets the stage for the events in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, where Loki, now inhabiting Basim’s body, seeks to track down Odin, also known as Eivor.
Who Is Jinni? Loki Connection, Explained
The Jinni, a creature that relentlessly pursued Basim before merging with Loki, embodies the torment and anguish he endured in his past life as Loki. By the end of AC Mirage, Basim confronts the Jinni and gains insight into his previous existence. Speculation abounds that the Jinni might have been Odin, who subjected Loki to torment during their Isu era. Ubisoft’s upcoming games may offer further clarification, as the story of Basim continues.
