They Just Want Cruelty

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

Description

The leaders of the arena in Pephka challenged Kassandra to compete in a series of brutal bouts. To the winners: honor, glory, and drachmae. To the losers: death.

Dialogue

Kassandra arrived at Warrior's Rest in Pephka, where she located a man with the help of Ikaros.

• Kassandra: That must be the man mentioned in the letter about arena fighting... Maion.

She approached him at the memorials dedicated to several warriors.

• Maion: All these brave, brave souls.

Kassandra stepped up to him. Sensing her question, he explained who the graves belonged to.

• Maion: Only the best warriors rest here. Heroes.
• Kassandra: They aren't many.
• Maion: But they're Heroes of the Arena. Those who earned an honorable death. The others are buried in unmarked holes far from here. Nobody remembers them.
• Maion: When your time comes, do you think you'll be worthy of the title hero, misthios?

I'm more than worthy.I'm not worthy.

• Kassandra: I'll be buried in one of those unmarked holes.
• Maion: I doubt that. I've heard tales of you, misthios. Of your triumphs and achievements. They're impressive... if they're true.

• Kassandra: That depends on what you've heard.
• Maion: I've heard a lot. A warrior adventuring across the land. Sometimes they're half beast. Or half god. But always an Eagle Bearer.
• Maion: Tell me... Is any of it true?

The stories are true.Some facts have been exaggerated.

• Kassandra: There's some truth in the stories, but they're mostly fantasy.
• Maion: Good answer. I don't care if the stories are true - I can see you have it in you. A capacity for greatness. The potential to be... a real hero.

• Maion: I'm Maion.
• Kassandra: Kassandra.
• Maion: If you want to truly live, Kassandra, to become Hero of the Arena, and to win riches beyond your wildest dreams, you'll need to fight in my arena.

(Accept - "I'll fight in your arena.")

• Kassandra: Sounds interesting.
• Maion: Good. Take my boat and head up the Pephka coast towards the shipwreck and into the mouth of the valley. There you'll find the entrance to my arena and Skoura, who handles my fighters.
• Maion: If he sees what I see in you, I think he'll have much to be excited about.

Kassandra took the nearby boat and sailed east along the shore.

• Kassandra: Maion said to look for shipwrecks...

As she sailed, she spotted more and more shipwrecks.

• Kassandra: The shipwrecks should lead me to the arena.

She eventually found the mouth of a valley. Ikaros' scouting confirmed the Arena's entrance and a man standing outside it.

• Kassandra: That must be Skoura.

Sailing into the mouth, she marveled at the entrance.

• Kassandra: What an entrance...

She brought the boat to a stop near the dock.

• Kassandra: Barnabas told me about The Arena. I should give it a go.

Before going any further, Kassandra inspected the altars honoring the current arena champions, starting with the largest in the center.

• Kassandra: Vasilis. The King of the Arena. A Spartan braggart. But with the skills to back it up...

She inspected the Athenian altar to the center's left.

• Kassandra: Titos. The Rock of Athens. Skilled soldier. Not to be discounted...

She inspected the altar on the far left.

• Kassandra: Klaudios. The King of Bandits. He's tricky. Deception is his trade...

She inspected the Spartan altar to the center's right.

• Kassandra: Belos. The Beast of Sparta. Devours his enemies. They call him death...

She inspected the altar on the far right.

• Kassandra: Evanthe. The Huntress. Just when you think she's cornered, she stabs from the side...

Having completed her inspection, Kassandra approached Skoura.

• Skoura: Shh... Do you hear that?

I hear nothing.Lie - I hear it.I hear an old man rambling.

• Kassandra: I hear nothing but the wind.
• Skoura: Exactly. Nothing.
• Kassandra: Right...
• Skoura: They tell me you could hear the crowds from all the way out here. Their thirst never quenched.

• Kassandra: Thirst for what?
• Skoura: Combat in the arena, misthios! Life and death in their purest forms. Love. Hate. Glory and ruin. All their for the crowds to devour. My name is Skoura.
• Kassandra: Kassandra.
• Kassandra: I found a note that mentioned this place. And you. It called for fighters from all over the Greek world.
• Skoura: These walls no longer shake because there are no heroes of the arena left. The crowds don't care about real fighters anymore. They just want blood. But you, misthios. You could change that... You could make them care.
• Skoura: And win riches beyond your wildest dreams of course... If you were to fight and win.

(Accept - "I'll fight.")

• Kassandra: Perhaps I can make the arena walls shake once again...
• Skoura: Good.

(If players asked "Who are my opponents?")

• Kassandra: Tell me about the other fighters.
• Skoura: As a new contender, the choice of opponent will be yours. No slaves here, no hapless criminals. Just warriors with the resolve to spill blood for the crowd.
• Kassandra: I see.
• Skoura: There are five current champions. Each one more bloodthirsty and ruthless than the last. You'll need to defeat each of them if you're to be called Hero of the Arena.

(If players asked "What can you tell me about the arena?")

• Kassandra: Tell me more about the arena.
• Skoura: It's been here for decades but, recently, it's changed.
• Kassandra: As most things do.
• Skoura: True. Fighters today care only about drachmae. Not honor. And the crowds now come only to watch one warrior gut another.
• Skoura: They're jaded. They want more than just killing. They want cruelty.

(Accept - "I'm ready to fight)

• Kassandra: My blades and I are ready.
• Skoura: Choose your opponent.

(I'll fight Klaudios, the King of Bandits.")

("I'll fight Belos, the Beast of Sparta.")

• Kassandra: I will spear Belos like a wild animal.

("I'll fight Evanthe, the Huntress.")

("I'll fight Titos, the Rock of Athens.")

("I'll fight Vasilis, the King of the Arena.")

Kassandra entered the arena.

• Maion: For those of you about to risk your lives... The crowd salutes you!

Kassandra slaughtered her way through the competition and, after a challenge, ended the champion's life.

• Maion: What a show everyone! What a show!

Outside, Skoura congratulated her on her first victory.

• Skoura: Do you hear? You must've done well in there.
• Kassandra: Did you not see?
• Skoura: I haven't seen a fight from inside the arena in years. But if the crowds are cheering like that, perhaps I have a hero on my hands after all...

Of course they cheer.I don't need the cheers.

• Kassandra: Of course they cheer for me. Who could resist cheering for a warrior-legend in the arena?
• Skoura: Maybe the stories I've heard are true...

• Kassandra:
• Skoura:

Maion approached them.

• Maion: Skoura.
• Skoura: Maion.
• Maion: Ah, misthios. I knew it as soon as I laid eyes on you. You could be - could be - Hero of the Arena like Skoura. If you keep fighting, I foresee a long and profitable career... for both of us.
• Maion: Talk to Skoura when you're ready to continue.

In time, Kassandra approached Skoura to register for a second fight. She defeated that champion the same as the first.

In time, Kassandra approached Skoura to register for a third fight. She defeated that champion as well.

In time, Kassandra defeated the fourth champion.

Finally, Kassandra was ready to challenge the final champion. After a difficult battle, she won .

Outcome

TBA

References

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey