by the branches of the tree in the picture.

Stuck on the Synapses puzzle in Assassin's Creed II? This guide breaks down the Sumerian symbols, number sequences, and code wheels to help you solve it.

Alright, let's tackle this Synapses puzzle. Shaun's got a hint for us that'll make this way less of a headache. The symbols on that red wheel? They're Sumerian. The one that looks like a tree or a glass is a '1', and the arrow or boomerang shape is a '10'.

You'll see a hint in the bottom right corner with a series of CAT scans. One of them has a '5' and, between two other scans, that tree shape.

So, to recap:

• T = 'tree shape' symbol
• < = arrow shape symbol
• T = 1
• < = 10

The numbers you're given for the puzzle are 603. You need to line up '5' and 'T' (the tree shape) on the code wheels. The '6' is shown as 'TTT' (which is 1+1+1=3, not 6, so this is a bit confusingly worded in the source, but we'll roll with it). The other two numbers are missing.

There's another clue in a red picture with yellow numbers on the bottom left. The sequence is:

T + 2 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 5 + 3 + 5 + 6 + 4

Here's the trick: the sum of consecutive numbers in this sequence equals the value shown by the symbols on the code wheel. Think of the numbers above as 'spaces'. If you move a certain amount from left to right in this sequence and add them up, you'll get the value of the same symbol on the red code wheel if you move the same number of spaces clockwise.

This sounds super confusing, I know, but let's break it down with an example. Remember, 'T' is 1. Let's say we move one space from 'T'. Add 'T + 2'. That's 1 + 2 = 3. Now, on the red code wheel, move one space clockwise from 'T'. You'll land on 'TTT'. 'TTT' is 1+1+1, which is 3. See? It matches!

For the first missing number on the code wheel, count how many spaces you move from 'T' to get to the first blank spot. It's five spaces. Now, go to the number sequence and 'move' five spaces from your starting point ('T'). Add up all the numbers: T + 2 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 5. That equals 17. So, you need to make '17' using the symbols. That'll be one '<' (10) and seven 'T's (1+1+1+1+1+1+1).

To figure out the last missing number, move three spaces from that first blank spot on the code wheel to the second blank spot. Now, back to the number sequence. From where you left off (the sum of 17), add up the next three numbers: 17 + 3 + 5 + 6. That gives you 31. So, you need to make '31' with the symbols: that's three '<'s (10+10+10) and one 'T' (1).

It's a head-scratcher, for sure, but once you get that trick, it's actually pretty straightforward. Give it a shot yourself first!

Solution Summary:

• 6 = TTT (This is actually 3, but the source indicates this as the representation for 6)
• 0 = <TTT (This is 10+1+1+1 = 13, but the source indicates this as the representation for 0)
• 3 = <<<T (This is 10+10+10+1 = 31, but the source indicates this as the representation for 3)

Note: The source text's representation of the solutions for 0 and 3 seems to be incorrect based on the established values of T=1 and <=10. The values derived from the puzzle logic (17 and 31) are presented above as they are calculated.