Of Minotaurs and Men

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

Description

Within the ruined Knossos Palace, Kassandra found a makeshift camp and investigated it, making the acquaintance of a young boy, Ardos.

Dialogue

Exploring the Knossos Palace, Kassandra came upon a camp someone had put together. Intrigued, she inspected it. As she knelt before the chest in the camp, a voice rang behind her.

• Ardos: Don't touch that chest! It's mine!

Kassandra stood up and turned to face the boy.

I'm not a thief.Try and stop me.

• Kassandra: I'm no thief, but if I was -
  I'd want something more valuable.
• Ardos: Take that back.

• Kassandra: Feeling brave, are you?
• Ardos: Me? No. Brave people are just looking for trouble.
  But if you wanna be brave? Open it.
• Kassandra: This is junk.
• Ardos: Maybe to you -
  - but it's all I have.

• Kassandra: These ruins are an... interesting place to set up camp. What brings you here?

Ardos walked past her, and then sighed.

• Ardos: A long time ago, below this very spot, my pater - the great adventurer, Nikios - entered the labyrinth to steal the Minotaur's treasure.
  As I waited outside, I heard shouts and roars, then his men came pouring out -
  His men, but not pater. I need to save him.

If Leiandros-questline completeIf Leiandros-questline incomplete

The Minotaur was just a man.You shouldn't believe the myths.

• Kassandra: The Minotaur was just a man in a mask.
  And not much a man at that.

• Kassandra: I've met the Minotaur... He's not what you think.

• Ardos: Those idiots in Pephka - they wouldn't know a real Minotaur if it ran them through with its horns!
  It's not like that here, misthios.

• Kassandra: A tragic tale... But last I heard, the Minotaur was living in Pephka. He's quite famous.
• Ardos: They don't know what they're talking about! The real Minotaur is in Messara!
• Kassandra: That's what they said in Pephka.
• Ardos: It's a scam.
  Trust me, I know scams.

• Kassandra: Where is he then? You said the labyrinth was beneath us -
• Ardos: Yeah! There's a creepy looking trapdoor beneath the temple!
• Kassandra: Take me there, and I will slay the Minotaur and find your pater's-

Ardos looked at her hopefully. She stammered.

• Kassandra: ...Find your pater.
• Ardos: You-you'll do that?

(Accept - Yes, I will.)

• Kassandra: The Minotaur will die, and I will find your pater.
• Ardos: Thank you, misthios! No one ever believes me.
• Kassandra: Just calm down and take me to the labyrinth.
  What's your name?
• Ardos: Ardos!
  Now, follow me! The entrance is way down underground.

Ardos took off into the depths of the ruins, with Kassandra following him as Ardos chattered away.

• Ardos: It's down this way!
  This place is going to blow your mind, misthios. There's a hugeeeeee room and there's a hugeeeeee hole in the ground with a hugeeeeee door.
  Everybody keeps going on about how - Theseus killed the Minotaur.
  Lies! I heard it! A roar, like - like uh -
  Rolling thunder!
  Yeah, that's it.

Deeper and deeper they went.

• Ardos: The Minotaur is still alive! And hungry!
• Kassandra: Great.
• Ardos: I'm glad you came along. Now pater has a shot of getting out of that damn labyrinth.

Behind a broken wall, the Minoan architecture gave way to something built way earlier.

• Ardos: They really didn't have to put the entrance this deep. Almost there. What were these Minoans thinking?
  Here we are!

Kassandra followed Ardos into a huge hall. The boy beamed with excitement.

• Ardos: Isn't this amaaaaaazing?!

Kassandra beheld the gate to the labyrinth, the stele before it.

I've never seen anything like this.This isn't special.

• Kassandra: I've seen some things, Ardos. But this...
• Ardos: IS AMAAAAAAAAAZING.

• Kassandra: It's just a ruined door.
  A big door, sure.
• Ardos: No, it's not! It's a really - a -
  S-Stop ruining everything!

• Kassandra: So the Minotaur lies beneath Knossos Palace...

She turned to Ardos.

• Kassandra: Open the door. I've got a minotaur to slay.
• Ardos: Ah. Uh, right.
  It's locked.

We'll find a way in.You're kidding me.

• Kassandra: Don't worry, we'll find a way. You must know something.

• Kassandra: If you don't know how to get in there, I swear -

• Ardos: I don't! But the guys who went into the labyrinth with my pater will! I've tried talking to them but -
  But they won't speak to me!
• Kassandra: They'll speak to me. Who are these people?
• Ardos: The Collector, Swordfish, and my old caretaker.
  My old caretaker -
  Boooooooring old man -
  Never wanted to talk to me about my pater of the Minotaur, so I left him to find out the truth on my own.
• Kassandra: Bold.
• Ardos: And the Collector is this guy who buys weird stuff. He's a merchant in Gortyn.

Ardos looked out over the hall.

• Ardos: Oh! And the last guy! They call him - Swooooooordfish.
• Kassandra: Of course.
• Ardos: He's the boss of Octopus Bay. And he's mean.

With that, Ardos turned and left. Kassandra followed him back to his camp, and spoke to him. ("How will I find "Swordfish"?")

• Kassandra: Where should I start looking for "Swordfish"?
• Ardos: ...Fisherman's Beachhead in Heraklion would be your best bet. No one's seen him in years. Some think he's dead.

(-> "Why do people call him "Swordfish"?")

• Kassandra: "Swordfish"? He must have a long, pointy nose.
• Ardos: No, no! He's really good with a sword and...
  He's really good with fish? I guess?

("Where is the "Collector"?")

• Kassandra: This "Collector," where is he?
• Ardos: He lives in Gortyn near some red pillars, in a craaaaaazy house with lots of stuff!
  I've "borrowed" some trinkets from him. He has so many he never even noticed.
• Kassandra: Don't let me catch you "borrowing" from me.
• Ardos: From you? I would never!
  ...Get caught.

("Where is this caretaker of yours?")

• Kassandra: Tell me more about this old man.
• Ardos: Okay, so, my old caretaker recently sent me a message about wanting to meet in Phaistos.
• Kassandra: That's nice of him.
• Ardos: Ha! He never answered me about my pater or the Minotaur, ever. That's why I left in the first place!
• Kassandra: I'll go in your place and see what I find.
• Ardos: The message said to meet him at our old house northeast of here, near Phaistos.

(Leave - "I'll talk to them.")

• Kassandra: I'll make sure they all talk.

Outcome

Kassandra completed her investigation of the men who accompanied Nikios into the Labyrinth of the Minotaur. In doing so, she determined that Ardos unknowingly held the key all along.

Trivia

• The quest title may be a reference to Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.

References

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey