Bully the Bullies

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Bully the Bullies was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.

Description

Paying her respects to her grandfather with her mother Myrrine brought Kassandra to glimpse into the moment in the past king's life as well as meet a new king.

Kassandra was dispatched to find and kill three rogue Krypteia members, to gain favor with the new king.

Dialogue

Kassandra talks to her mother as they both look up at the statue of Leonidas.

• Myrrine: Leonidas. He was Sparta's last true hero. We'd all be under the yoke of the Persian Empire if it wasn't for his courage. The same blood courses through your veins.

I don't believe it.It's not a big deal.I've never forgotten.

Kassandra replies angrily.

• Kassandra: My blood courses through these veins. Not some man's I've never met.
• Myrrine: Leonidas was king, Kassandra.
• Kassandra: And yet I grew up in the dirt!

• Kassandra: I'm proud of my lineage, but I carve my own path.
• Myrrine: You carry the blood of heroes. You can carve much more than the path of a mercenary.

• Kassandra: So, our blood is the blood of kings.
• Myrrine: You are so much more than a mercenary. You carry the blood of heroes, blood of power. Remember what I told you?
• Kassandra: That people would try to take that power for themselves.
• Myrrine: And then you promised...
• Kassandra: I wouldn't let them.

• Myrrine: Hold out your spear.

Kassandra unsheathes it from her back and holds it out with a hand. As Myrrine touches the spear, they both experience Leonidas's memory in the Temple of Apollo at the Sanctuary of Delphi. He was arguing against the members of the Cult of Kosmos, who number by the dozen behind and beside the Pythia.

• Leonidas: All of this talk of the Pythia. The Pythia! I do not care what she says.

One of the two cultists in front of the others and beside the Pythia rebukes.

• Cultist: Enough! We have grown tired of your insolent tongue! Sparta will not go to war, the Pythia has spoken!
• Leonidas: The Pythia says what you tell her to say! She's been your puppet for far too long, the time has come to cut her strings!

The other cultist in front speaks.

• Cultist: Oh Leonidas, the days of heroes are over. You think your blood makes you special? If we opened your veins it would spill to the ground and disappear through the cracks. You are no one.

Leonidas quickly points his spear to his head.

• Leonidas: You are more than welcome to find out.

The oracle kneels on one knee and lowers his spear.

• Pythia: Your fate is sealed, Son of the Lion. Xerxes will unite us. He will bring order to chaos.

Leonidas turns his back to them. The cultist he pointed his spear at warns him.

• Cultist: Defy the Pythia, and everyone you love, everything you stand for, will perish.

Leonidas turns his head to glower at him before marching out of the temple. He pushes away the guards at the entrance and immediately orders his commander as they both march away.

• Leonidas: Gather the men.
• Dienekes: My king?
• Leonidas: If Xerxes wants Sparta, he'll have to go through me.

The memory fades, and Kassandra sheathes the spear. Myrrine looks at the statue of Leonidas once more.

• Myrrine: Incredible!

Her mother looks back to her.

• Myrrine: Now do you understand?
• Kassandra: What must I do?
• Myrrine: It's time we embrace our destiny — both of us. If we don't stop the Cult before it's too late, then all Leonidas fought and died for was for nothing. Our bloodline has risen to those who would enslave us.
• Kassandra: It's time we rise again.

A middle-aged man wearing a golden-leaved crown, a red chiton, and a black and golden chlamys approaches them.

• Pausanias: Well, well, well. Mother and daughter united in Sparta at last. And look at you! Goddessess among mortals.

They both bow, though Kassandra only bows with her head.

• Myrrine: King Pausanias, we're honored. I was sorry to hear about your father.
• Pausanias: Yes. Our fathers would have been proud to see us here today.
• Myrrine: You remember Kassandra, my king?
• Pausanias: Who could forget? The girl who died to save her brother. Such a tragedy. An innocent child, put to death because of an ancient, merciless law.

I wasn't the only one put to death.Sparta found me guilty.You don't sound like most Spartans.

• Kassandra: Two innocent children were put to their deaths that day.

Myrrine scolds her.

• Myrrine: Kassandra, enough!

She quickly apologizes for her.

• Myrrine: Apologies my king, she's been away from Sparta for a long time.
• Pausanias: You both have.

The king smiles.

• Pausanias: This one has fire like her mother.

Kassandra replies sarcastically.

• Kassandra: I killed an elder. Sparta didn't find that very innocent.
• Myrrine: Kassandra!

• Kassandra: Ancient and merciless? Most Spartans live and die by these laws. But you sound more progressive.

The king quickly retaliates.

• Pausanias: And you sound like you've been rubbing elbows with Athenians.
• Kassandra: I've been to a symposium or two.

Myrrine sighs and looks down.

• Pausanias: In any case, Sparta was weakened by losing you. Losing you both.

Kassandra and Myrrine glances at each other, then Kassandra returns her look to the king.

• Kassandra: We're examples of why these laws must change.
• Pausanias: Oh I agree. But King Archidamos? If he could carve Spartan law across the chests of every citizen he would.

Those laws tore us apart.I long for peace.

Kassandra appears irked.

• Kassandra: Spartan laws destroyed my family. Spartan laws had me claw my way through the streets!

She points to her grandfather's statue.

• Kassandra: We're here today because he defied those laws.
• Pausanias: He did, and he lost his head for it.

• Kassandra: I've spent my whole life looking over my shoulder. If Sparta is to be my home again, I'd rather it be a peaceful one.

The king laughs.

• Pausanias: Peace at what cost? When Spartans aren't killing, they're training to kill. And when they're not killing Athens, they're declaring war on their own people.

• Pausanias: But we're not here to talk about the dead. Are we?
• Kassandra: We know Sparta reclaimed our house after what happened to my father in Megaris. We want it back.
• Pausanias: Mind your tongue, child. You may not live in Sparta anymore, but I'm still your king.
• Myrrine: We graciously request an audience with you and King Archidamos to discuss reinstating our citizenship and reclaiming our home.
• Pausanias: Of course! There's nothing I'd want more. Archidamos, however, still hasn't forgiven you for the whole... nose incident.

Mother and daughter glances at each other again.

• Kassandra: What can we do to sway him?
• Pausanias: There's rumor of a helot rebellion, and the krypteia are stoking the flames. Savagely killing helots, stealing livestock, and leaving corpses to rot in the streets.
• Myrrine: The krypteia represents Sparta's ultimate achievement in military training. Their discipline and fearlessness make Sparta's army the most feared in the world.
• Pausanias: Once. But the krypteia have become corrupt and bloodthirsty. And training boys to kill unarmed peasants is nothing to be proud of.
• Pausanias: Do you want your home back or not?

They both nod.

• Pausanias: Good.
• Pausanias: Show the helots we no longer support the senseless slaughtering of their people.

(If players choose "Where can I find them?")

• Kassandra: And where would I start looking for these krypteia?
• Pausanias: One can be found in the fort on Zarax Point. Another was assigned to guard a Spartan leader's house. The third is more elusive. He was last seen in one of the villages west of Helot Hills. He's definitely the loudest of the three.

(If players choose "What else can you tell me about the krypteia?")

• Kassandra: My mater spoke of these krypteia. What can you tell me about them?
• Pausanias: They are the hidden ones. Handpicked at an early age. Starved and trained in isolation. They must steal and kill to survive. If they succeed at their training, they become the king's guard.

Kassandra steals a glance to her mother.

• Kassandra: But why have me kill them?
• Pausanias: For years the krypteia kept peace between the helots and Spartans. Troublemakers and threats among the helots were... dealt with. But lately these krypteia have been killing men, women, and children without reason or mercy. Babies ripped from their mothers and fed to the wolves... The krypteia have become a breeding ground for ruthless savages.

If players choose "What can you tell me about King Archidamos?")

• Kassandra: Is there anything I should know about King Archidamos?
• Pausanias: Traditional. Brutal. Boring. Archidamos values the old ways over the welfare of his people. He sided with the elders that day on Mount Taygetos.

(Leave — "I'll do this for you.")

• Kassandra: If killing krypteia will get our home back, I'll do it.

Kassandra leaves the statue.

• Kassandra: If Archidamos believes in the old ways, won't killing his krypteia create conflict between him and Pausanias?
• Kassandra: I miss Kephallonia sometimes. Life was simple. Even if Markos was a bumbling idiot.

Kassandra arrives at the leader house on the cliff atop the houses of the Spartans and kills the krypteia inside. She then called Phobos and rides to the fort. After finding and killing her target among many soldiers, she ride for the village near the sea. There, she discovers the krypteria, with only a sword and greaves, trying to silence a mob atop a rock.

• Spartan Light Soldier: Listen up. I'm only going to say this once.

He briefly lowers his voice to comment on the village.

• Spartan Light Soldier: This village stinks like a pig's asshole.

He resumes.

• Spartan Light Soldier: Everyone shut up, or you'll eat steel.
• Spartan Light Soldier: I'd be more than happy to bash your teeth in if you don't settle down.

One of the women in the mob protests.

• Slave: Night and day we slave for Sparta. They take everything from us.

Another woman continues.

• Slave: They treat us worse than dogs. They kill us without reason. We can't live like this.

Kassandra moves closer to the crowd.

• Slave: Gods! We pray to you, we beg your mercy. We beg for justice.

She joins them.

• Spartan Light Soldier: Listen up, you dogs. Some of you seem to think that because you were born in Lakonia, you have the right to live in Lakonia.

The old woman besides Kassandra talks to her.

• Slave: My goat is older than him! But he talks like he's king. He kills our men, steals our chickens, and everyone's terrified.

The krypteria continues.

• Spartan Light Soldier: You're allowed to live on the condition you produce for the Spartan army.

Kassandra whisphers to her.

• Kassandra: The Spartans fear you more than you fear them.
• Slave: But they're trained soldiers. We're just farmers.
• Kassandra: He's one. You're many. Let's start a riot, shall we?
• Spartan Light Soldier: Lately production has been horse shit!
• Kassandra: Watch this.

She shouts back at him.

So is your face!It's your fault.

• Kassandra: Your face looks like horse shit!

The helots laugh, but the woman she was talking to panics.

• Slave: What are you doing?
• Kassandra: Told you, starting a riot.

• Kassandra: Then stop killing our men and stealing our chickens!

• Spartan Light Soldier: You think I want to be here? I'd rather be in Sparta, fighting or fucking.

You're terrible at both.Then leave.

• Kassandra: You couldn't fight or fuck your way out of a grain sack.

They hoot in laughter. The woman looks around and turns back to her.

• Slave: It's working!

Kassandra replies dubiously.

• Kassandra: We... also don't want you here!

• Spartan Light Soldier: Sparta gives you everything! Land, protection from your enemies...

You're the enemy!I want a pony!

• Kassandra: Sparta is our enemy!

The old woman now joins her.

• Slave: Yes!

A man repeats what she said.

• Slave: Sparta is the enemy!

The old woman repeats as well.

• Slave: Sparta is the real enemy!

• Kassandra: I don't need protection! I want a pony!

• Spartan Light Soldier: Who dares speak while I'm speaking?

(If players fail to incite the crowd.)

• Kassandra: You've stolen our chickens for the last time! Down with the krypteia! Who's with me?

She raises her arm in defiance, but when she looks around the helots look down.

• Kassandra: Maláka, I'll kill you myself!

The crowd disperses as he draws his sword and hops down to fight her, but he was soon defeated.

(If players incites the crowd.)

• Kassandra: The killing of helots ends now! You are one, we are many!

She chants and pounds her chest.

• Kassandra: You are one, we are many!
• Kassandra: Down with the krypteia!

Some of the mob picks up shovels and other tools they can use to fight the krypteia, who drew his sword and hops down to fight them. Kassandra assassinates him among the commotion.

Outcome

After talking about their lineage and destiny at the tomb of Leonidas, Pausanias joins their conversation to greet them and talk about Sparta. They eventually tell him they want their house back which was appropriated by the city-state. The king tells Kassandra to eliminate the allegedly corrupt krypteia to change king Archidamos's predisposition. An initially confused Kassandra sets off and hunted them down nevertheless.

Trivia

• This quest is missable. It is possible to go and meet the kings straightaway; doing this locks out Bully the Bullies as well as One Bad Spartan Spoils the Bunch quests, and grants instead The Legendary Hunt quest.
• While vague the dialogue makes it sound like Pausanias's father, Pleistoanax, has died when historically he had been exiled and would later be reinstated as king in 426 BCE with Pausanias losing the title until Pleistoanax's death in 409 BCE.

Gallery

• 
  Keleas addressing the crowd

References

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey