A dying scholar’s final wish sends you on a windswept chase across the rooftops and hidden chambers of Abbasiyah in Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s “A Life’s Work.” Tasked with recovering three elusive pages of a lost treatise, players must scale domes, outwit barred doors, and make a poignant choice that shapes the story’s end-all within the shadow of the Observatory. Will you uncover every page and decide the fate of a legacy left behind?
Our Assassin’s Creed Mirage guide will explain how to start the “A Life’s Work” Tale of Baghdad and show you where to find all three pages, as well as how to decide on the end “A Life’s Work” choice.
How to start ’A Life’s Work’ in AC Mirage
To start the “A Life’s Work” Tale of Baghdad in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, head to the northwestern end of the Abbasiyah district and look for the Observatory, which is marked by a synchronization point on your map. At the base of the Observatory, you’ll find an ailing scholar named Al-Mahani sitting on a bench with a quest icon above him. Speak to Al-Mahani to begin the quest. After a brief conversation, he will attempt to stand and walk with you, but will collapse nearby. Help him to a bench, and the quest will officially start, tasking you with retrieving three scattered pages of his life’s work from the area around the Observatory.
The starting point for “A Life’s Work” is located directly at the base of the Observatory viewpoint in Abbasiyah. You’ll want to talk to this guy:
His name is Al-Mahani. He’s a scholar. He’s aging and in dire health, and has two requests: to speak to his son (whom he had an argument with earlier that day) and to find all three pages of his life’s work. He’ll insist you find these pages before finding his son.
Walk with Al-Mahani for a little bit. He’ll eventually sit down to catch his breath on a bench.
Where to find the three pages in ’A Life’s Work’
To find the three pages for the “A Life’s Work” quest in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, search the area around the Observatory in the Abbasiyah district. The first page is found on the roof of a nearby building, but as you approach, it will be blown away by the wind-chase it as it floats to the top of another building, where you can finally collect it. The second page is located near the top of the Observatory itself; walk around the dome from the synchronization point to spot a table next to an astronomy device, where the page rests. The third and final page is inside the Observatory, on a desk on the second floor. To enter, go around to the back of the building, move a shelf to get a clear view through a window, and use a throwing knife to unbar the door before heading upstairs to retrieve the page. After collecting all three, return to the scholar to complete the quest.
Only the first page shows up when you use Eagle Vision, which makes tracking down all three pages more difficult than finding traditional collectibles like Lost Books and Gear Chests.
The first page is located on top the building directly to the left of the bench, but oh no! The wind takes it away.
You’ll have to parkour after it. You can’t not catch up to it, though. It eventually comes to a stop at the building on the northeast corner of the Observatory.
The second page is located inside the Observatory, in the room directly behind the bench Al-Mahani is sitting on. You can’t simply walk into the building, though; the door is barred. Instead, loop around the back and move this bookshelf to the right:
Stand on top of it, and aim through the barred window. Throw a knife between the bars at the clamp on the door like so:
This will unlock the door, allowing you entry to the building. The second page is on a desk up the stairs.
The third page is located at the top of the tower. Simply scale the building as if you were going to synchronize with the viewpoint. You’ll find it on the desk by the armillary:
’A Life’s Work’ choice outcomes explained
’A Life’s Work’ choice outcomes explained
At the conclusion of the “A Life’s Work” Tale of Baghdad in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, you face a dialogue choice when returning the lost treatise pages to Al-Mahani’s grieving son. You can either tell him that the treatise mattered most to his father or that he-the son-mattered most. If you say the treatise mattered most, the son becomes angry with his father, throws away the treatise, and storms off. If you say the son mattered most, he instead directs his anger at you for letting his father spend his last moments focused on his work, but he keeps the treatise and mourns his father. Importantly, this choice does not affect your rewards or have any lasting impact on the game; you receive a skill point and complete the quest regardless of your decision. The outcome is purely narrative, offering different emotional responses but no gameplay consequences.
When you go to return to Al-Mahani, you’ll find that the scholar has died. His son – who does not have a name beyond “Al-Mahani’s Son” – is there, and wants to talk to you. You can choose from two dialogue options in the ensuing conversation:
- “The treatise mattered most.”
- “You mattered most.”
If you choose the treatise, Al-Mahani’s son will get mad at his dad and storm off. Choose him, and he’ll get mad at you – and storm off. Your decision has no tangible effect on the game.
You’ll get a skill point either way and the “A Life’s Work” Tale of Baghdad will be complete.
What secrets do the page locations reveal about Baghdad’s history
The locations of the pages in the “A Life’s Work” quest in Assassin’s Creed Mirage are carefully chosen to immerse players in the layered history of Baghdad. Each page site-within the Observatory, atop rooftops, and behind hidden doors-reflects the city’s legacy as a center of scientific discovery, architectural innovation, and cultural fusion during the Abbasid era.
These locations evoke Baghdad’s historical role as a crossroads of knowledge and civilization. The Observatory itself is a nod to the city’s real-life contributions to astronomy and scholarship, particularly during the Islamic Golden Age when scholars translated and advanced works in medicine, mathematics, and the natural sciences. The intricate routes and hidden chambers mirror the city’s once-complex urban design, from the famous round city with its double walls and four gates to the bustling markets and diverse neighborhoods where different faiths and cultures coexisted.
By exploring these sites, players uncover not only the physical secrets of the Abbasiyah district but also the intellectual and multicultural spirit that defined Baghdad’s golden age-a city where the pursuit of knowledge was as prized as its architectural marvels.
What does Baghdad’s founding story tell me about its strategic importance
Baghdad’s founding story highlights its extraordinary strategic importance, both geographically and politically. When Caliph al-Mansur established the city in 762 CE, he deliberately chose a site along the Tigris River, close to where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers converge. This location provided several key advantages:
-
Control of Trade Routes: Baghdad was positioned at the crossroads of major land and water trade routes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. Goods from India, China, Central Asia, and beyond could reach the city with ease, making it a vibrant hub for international commerce and the exchange of ideas.
-
Abundant Water Supply: The Tigris, along with an extensive canal system, ensured a reliable water source in an otherwise arid region. This not only supported a large population but also enabled agriculture, manufacturing, and urban growth.
-
Defensive Design: The city’s famous circular layout, massive walls, and deep moat were engineered for defense, reflecting the need to protect the caliphate’s capital from external threats.
-
Symbolic and Political Power: By founding a new city rather than ruling from an existing one, the Abbasids signaled a new era and established Baghdad as a center of Islamic authority, culture, and learning for centuries.
Baghdad’s rapid rise to become the world’s largest city by the 10th century was a direct result of these strategic choices, cementing its role as the heart of the Islamic world and a major node on the Silk Roads.
