Burden of Leadership

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

Description

As part of her first job to maintain order as the dikastes, Kassandra met with Atlas, one of the sons of Poseidon.

Dialogue

Kassandra entered the Doma of Atlas and stood before him on his throne. The messenger she met earlier bowed to her.

• Atlas: Ah, you’ve arrived. I’m honored the Dikastes would accept my humble request.
• Kassandra: You're Atlas, I take it.
• Atlas: In the flesh. I thank you for coming to see me. I'm sure you're very busy. The burden my father gave you is not a light one.

I'm happy to help.Dikastes is a big job.

• Kassandra: Your messenger told me it was urgent.
• Atlas: Gravely urgent, indeed.

• Kassandra: I seem to have a lot to do around here thanks to Poseidon, but if I can help, I will.
• Atlas: A noble pursuit. As my messenger stressed, the situation is dire. The Dikastes is just who I need.

• Kassandra: Well, here I am.
• Atlas: It's my brothers, the Archons. They have issues with the human populations under their control. Tensions between Isu and humans are mounting. Without order, the problems will grow severe.
• Kassandra: I'll try and use my position to help them where I can.
• Atlas: Find Gadiros, Ampheres, and Azaes. Through your shining example, I hope they learn the valuable lessons in discipline they so desperately need.
• Kassandra: And if I help them, you're hoping it'll maintain the peace between Isu and humans.
• Atlas: That's the plan. Poseidon should have known they weren't ready for the responsibility an Archon bears, but that's his failing.

(Asked "Who is Gadiros?")

• Kassandra: Tell me about Gadiros.
• Atlas: You'll find him near the Arena hard at work planning his next exhilarating spectacle, I'm sure.

(Asked "Who is Ampheres?")

• Kassandra: What should I know about Ampheres?
• Atlas: He's probably off terrorizing people near the Fortified Doma of Autochtonos. Make sure you don't sneak up on him, he's quite jumpy.

(Asked "Who is Azaes?")

• Kassandra: What about Azaes? Who is he?
• Atlas: You'll find dear Azaes wherever there is humanitarian work to be done. I heard there were some issues near the Doma of Ampheres.

(Asked "What do the Archons do?")

• Kassandra: We have Archons where I'm from. Do they fulfill the same duties?
• Atlas: They are charged with overseeing and ruling the humans of Atlantis, ensuring all live comfortably and peacefully. A job at which I fear they're failing.

(Asked "Why is there tension in Atlantis?")

• Kassandra: There always seems to be unrest between the two races. The underworld and Elysium were no different.
• Atlas: Time passes and tensions keep building. I expected my father to handle it, but Atlantis grows steadily worse, and no one wants to see what could happen if precautions are not taken.

(Leave – "I have what I need.")

• Kassandra: I'll find the Archons and make sure their problems are taken care of.

As she turned to leave, the messenger cleared his throat to get her attention before grinning sheepishly and casting a sidelong glance at the adjacent room.

Kassandra left to solve the issues facing Gadiros, Ampheres, and Azaes, who had to deal with boredom, rebellion, and plague, respectively.

With the Archons' issues resolved, Kassandra returned to Atlas to find his brothers before him in chains on their knees.

• Atlas: Dikastes, welcome back. I'm glad you could be here to witness this momentous occasion.
• Kassandra: Why are the Archons in chains?
• Atlas: I invited my dear siblings here for one final lesson in leadership.
• Kassandra: It looks like an execution to me.
• Atlas: Every experience in life should be a lesson. Including death. You've been to the underworld, so I know you understand what these fools do not.

{{Atlas' final decision depends on the sum total of how the Eagle Bearer resolved their issues. Showing compassion to the humans results in Atlas sparing his brothers, and acts of slaughter result in Atlas executing them. Exact wording may depend on which ruthless outcomes are taken and which compassionate outcomes are taken instead. Eight possible combinations.

1. Azaes – End Shroud; Ampheres – Supplies; Gadiros – Spare / Listed
2. Azaes – End Shroud; Ampheres – Supplies; Gadiros – Kill
3. Azaes – End Shroud; Ampheres – Captains; Gadiros – Spare
4. Azaes – End Shroud; Ampheres – Captains; Gadiros – Kill
5. Azaes – Use Shroud; Ampheres – Supplies; Gadiros – Spare
6. Azaes – Use Shroud; Ampheres – Supplies; Gadiros – Kill
7. Azaes – Use Shroud; Ampheres – Captains; Gadiros – Spare
8. Azaes – Use Shroud; Ampheres – Captains; Gadiros – Kill / Listed

}}

The Archons' problems are fixed.You're going to pay, Atlas.I'm the teacher here, not you.

• Kassandra: You asked me to help the Archons. I did. Their problems are solved.
• Atlas: Their problems only existed because they couldn't perform the duties their roles demanded.

• Kassandra: I'm going to make you pay for this.
• Atlas: Calm down, Kassandra. I didn't deceive you as much as you think. My brothers' problems were real and did need solving.

• Kassandra: Careful, Atlas. I am the Dikastes. If anyone is passing judgment here, it's me.
• Atlas: Don't presume to think you can tell me what to do. The authority of your position doesn't extend to my palace.

• Kassandra: You're going to murder your brothers? For what?
• Atlas: For order... For peace... For Atlantis!
• Kassandra: For Atlas, you mean.
• Atlas: I am the rightful heir to Atlantis. I should be the Dikastes! I cannot defy Poseidon's will, but these fools don't deserve their power. I'll be a better Archon in their stead.

Poseidon won't approve.They're more useful to you alive.

• Kassandra: Once Poseidon finds out what you've done, he won't let you get away with it.

Problems solved compassionatelyProblems solved ruthlessly

• Atlas: That is our way—the way of progress. You are not one of us. I've seen your compassion to those who dwell in this city. Perhaps our ways are not as perfect as Poseidon thinks they are.
• Kassandra: Parents do what they think is best, but it doesn't mean they're always right. We have to look after each other no matter what we're told.

• Atlas: Our father always encouraged us to compete with each other. If he were here, he'd execute them himself, just as you executed those poor humans in the Arena.
• Kassandra: They were criminals!
• Atlas: And the "resistance"? Face it, Dikastes, if the roles were reversed, you'd pass the same judgment.

• Kassandra: Killing your brothers is a waste. Teach them to learn from their mistakes, and they'll do whatever you say. They can't do that if they're dead.

Problems solved compassionatelyProblems solved ruthlessly

• Atlas: I watched you help my brothers. You always found solutions that tried to preserve life. Some of my kind view humans as a resource to be sacrificed. If we want them to progress, we must be an example.
• Kassandra: We all look up to someone. I think they look up to you.

• Atlas: Their ultimate failure was their lack of decisiveness. When you needed to act, you did without hesitation. But for what? To put on a show in the Arena?
• Kassandra: They were criminals!
• Atlas: And the "resistance"? Face it, Dikastes, if the roles were reversed, you'd pass the same judgment.

Atlas spares brothersAtlas executes brothers

• Atlas: Wise, Dikastes. I respect your decision... for the moment.

Atlas stepped forward and held his hand over his brothers, teleporting them out of the doma. Kassandra smiled.

• Kassandra: You might need someone new to take lessons from, Atlas.

Atlas fired beams of light from his hand through the heads of Gadiros and Ampheres, which flung their bodies back in Kassandra's direction. He held his hand over Azaes, who had resigned himself to his fate. Atlas killed him.

• Atlas: I am my own teacher.

• Kassandra: So what now?
• Atlas: If you're going to one day rule this city, Kassandra, you're going to have to learn a very important lesson.
• Kassandra: That's what I get for helping you? A lecture?
• Atlas: Just some words of advice. Nothing in Atlantis is what it seems at face value. This city is old, and those that call it home are even older. You have helped me, Dikastes, and for that you have my thanks.

He handed her half of a disk-shaped keystone, similar to the ones she had seen before in the Greek world.

• Kassandra: This isn't over, Atlas.
• Atlas: On the contrary. I'm done here.

Outcome

Kassandra met with Atlas at his doma in the Royal Mountain of Poseidon and then proceeded to help out three archons and other sons of Poseidon, Gadiros, Ampheres, and Azaes.

References

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – The Fate of Atlantis: Judgment of Atlantis