Writhing Dread: Difference between revisions

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This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning recent or upcoming releases from the Assassin's Creed series. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all.

This template should be removed from the article 5 January 2019.

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It has been proposed that this page be merged with Medusa, under the article: Writhing Dread. Discussion to this effect can be held on the former article's talk page.

The Writhing Dread, also known as a gorgon or the Medusa,^[1] was a type of hybrid beast created by the Isu as part of the Olympos Project.

A human would transmute into this creature upon contact with the Prize of the Medusa], one of the four Atlanis artifacts. Upon being slain, the artifact would transform the next individual who touches it into the beast.^[2]

Biology

The most distinctive mutation in a woman upon transforming into the Writhing Dread lay in her hair which transformed into a nest of fearsome snakes.^[3]

Far deadlier than the serpent strands, however, were her eyes which were capable of projecting a beam that gradually petrified its targets, transmuting their tissue into stone. Despite their calcified bodies, these victims could then be remotely controlled by the Writhing Dead as her own minions who fought on her behalf.^[3]

Equipment and skills

Through the power of her sword, Ligeia, as the Writhing Dead, was capable of shielding herself with a barrier, teleporting, and firing energy blasts.^[3]

History

Creation

The Writhing Dread, alongside the rest of the creatures in the Olympos Project, were considered pets by a certain Isu faction that saw themselves as gods.^[1]

Mythology

The most famous of the Writhing Dread's incarnations was Medusa in Greek mythology.^[2] In the legend, she was slain by Perseus with his a Sword of Eden.^[4]

End of the "curse"

In 431 BCE, the latest of victim of this mutation resided in the Petrified Temple within the depths of the Petrified Valley on Lesbos.^[1]

During the time of the Peloponnesian War, an expedition traversed within the Valley and encountered the creature. All but one of the expedition party members were turned to stone by the Writhing Dread. Only the mercenary Zetes remained, having used his spear's length to avoid her petrifying gaze. In the end, Ligeia, a Daughter of Artemis arrived and dealt the final blow to the creature. Afterwards, the woman touched the artifact and transformed into the new Writhing Dread.^[5]

At the height of the war, the misthios Kassandra gained entry into the Petrified Temple with the Gorgon Disk obtained from the Daughters of Artemis in order to find Ligeia on behalf of her lover Bryce. Encountering Ligeia, now the Writhing Dread herself, Kassandra was forced to kill her after she petrified and destroyed Bryce.^[3]

Legacy

After killing the final incarnation of the Writhing Dread, Kassandra claimed the artifact in order to seal off Atlantis.

Medusa'a incarnation as the Writhing Dread and her encounter with Perseus endure as a myth into the modern day.^[4]

Gallery

Concept art of the Writhing Dread
Promotional image of the Writhing Dread
Promotional image of battle with the Writhing Dread

Appearances

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Mel MacCoubrey' Twitter
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Writhing Dead
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Assassin's Creed II – Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"
↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Heavy is the Spear

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Characters

Assassins	Layla Hassan • Victoria Bibeau • Kiyoshi Takakura • Alannah Ryan • Harlan Cunningham \| Amunet \| Kassandra (Ikaros) • Darius

Cult of Kosmos	Aspasia • Deimos • Nyx (Elpenor • Sotera • The Master • Hermippos • Midas) • Polemon (Epiktetos • The Centaur of Euboea • The Chimera • The Silver Griffin • Machaon) • Kleon (Brison • Podarkes • Rhexenor • Iobates • Kodros) • Exekias (Pallas • Deianeira • Belos • Swordfish • Okytos) • Iokaste (Melite • Harpalos • Zoisme • Diona • Chrysis) • The Hydra (The Mytilenian Shark • Melanthos • The Octopus • Sokos • Asterion) • Pausanias (Skylax • The Monger • Lagos • Kallias • Silanos)

Templars / Order of the Ancients	Juhani Otso Berg \| Amorges • Pactyas (Akantha • Bubares • Echion • Konon • Phratagounè • Timosa • Order Elite) • Phila (Augos • Nestor • Megakreon • Sophos) • The Immortals • Gergis (Artazostre • Dimokrates • Pithias • Gaspar • Harpagos) \| Xerxes I

Isu	Aletheia \| Persephone • Hades • Poseidon • Hermes • Hekate • Atlas • Gadiros • Ampheres • Azaes • Neokles • Aita • Juno • Melitta • Xarios

Olympos Project	Cyclops (Brontes • Steropes • Arges) • Writhing Dread (Medusa • Ligeia) • Minotaur • Sphinx • Cerberos • Lycanthropes (Lyra) • Hekatonchires

Mercenaries	Kassandra the Eagle-Bearer • Exekias the Legend • Talos the Stone-Fist • Sosipatros the Archon's Servant • The Poisoner • The False Leonidas • Zetes the Retired • Hyrkanos the Cunning • Agis of the North • Theos the Stargazer • Gaia the Fist • Exadios the Backbreaker • Edonos the Charging Bull • Atos the Beast Caller • Hirpes the Sordid • Aias the Clean • Kephalon the Thinker • Proktos the Moon King • "Eagle Bearer" (Chikaros) • Polykaste the Jilted • Narkissos the Babbler • Nestor the Great • Testiklos the Nut • Harpina the Heavy Hitter • Iaeira the Overcomer • Damais the Indifferent • Astarte the Swamp • Nanno the Abakos • Okyllos the Successor • Thaleia the Talon Hand • Laches the Eternal • Abia the Shaded \| Cyclops of Kephallonia • The Poisoner of Athens • Testikles the Olympian • Deianeira the Boeotian Champion • Epiktetos the Forthcoming • Swordfish of Octopus Bay • The Monger of Korinthia • Achilles the Trojan War Hero • King Agamemnon of Mycenae • Herakles the Legendary • Perseus the Gorgon Slayer

Love interests	Aikaterine • Alkibiades • Anais • Aspasia • Auxesia • Daphnae • Diona • Kosta • Kyra • Lykaon • Lykinos • Mikkos • Odessa • Roxana • Thaletas • Thyia • Timotheos • Xenia • Zopheras • "Eagle Bearer" • Natakas \| Adonis • Elpis

Others	Archidamos • Aristophanes • Artaxerxes I • Barnabas • Brasidas • Darius II • Demokritos • Elpidios • Euripides • Herodotos • Hippokrates • Iola • Markos • Myrrine • Nikolaos • Perikles • Phidias • Polykleitos • Praxilla • Pythagoras • Phoibe • Sargon • Sophokles • Sokrates • Thespis • Thrasymachos \| Leonidas • Dienekes • Kurush

Factions

Assassins (Layla Hassan's cell | Protectors of Persia) | Templars (Sigma Team | Order of the Ancients) • Cult of Kosmos • Delian League • Peloponnesian League • Achaemenid Empire • Minor factions (Daughters of Artemis • Followers of Ares • The Dagger • Periklean Circle)

Locations

United Kingdom (London) | Egypt (Giza) | Isu Locations (Atlantis (Gateway to the Lost City) • Ancient Forge • Cave of Mt. Zas • Cave of the Forgotten Isle • Myson Cave • Nisyros • Sphinx Lair • Labyrinth of Lost Souls • Petrified Temple • Teichos of Herakles) • Greece • Aegean Sea (Andros) • Volcanic Islands (Thera • Anaphi • Nisyros) • Krete (Messara (Gortyn) • Pephka) • Kythera Island • Melos • Attika Peninsula (Attika (Athens • Dekelia • Lavrio • Port of Piraeus) • Boeotia (Lake Kopais • Mykalessos • Orchomenos • Thebes) • Megaris (Megara • Pagai)) • Forest Islands (Thasos • Abantis Islands (Euboea • Skyros) • Petrified Islands (Chios • Lesbos)) • Kephallonia Islands (Kephallonia (Sami) • Ithaka) • Korinthian Gulf • Peloponnese (Arkadia (Tegea) • Argolis (Argos • Epidauros) • Achaia (Dyme • Patrai • Pellene) • Elis • Korinthia (Korinth) • Lakonia (Sparta) • Messenia) • Pirate Islands (Keos (Koressia) • Seriphos • Lestris) • Paradise Islands (Delos • Mykonos • Naxos Island • Paros Island) • Southern Sporades (Samos • Kradia Isle • Kos) • Northern Greece (Lokris • Makedonia (Amphipolis • Potidaia) • Malis • Phokis (Kirrha)) • Afterlife (Elysium • Underworld)

Events

Search for the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus | Peloponnesian War (Battle of Amphipolis • Battle of Pylos) • Plague of Athens | Greco-Persian Wars (Battle of Thermopylae)

Terms and concepts

Achievements • Ainigmata Ostraka • Crafting • Customization • Currencies (Drachma • Orichalcum) • Dual-wielding • Eagle Vision • Engraving • Genetic memory • Helix Credits • Historical Locations • Leap of Faith • Memories • Message boards • Outfits • Photo Mode • Pieces of Eden (Artifact Fragment • Atlantis Artifacts • Pyramid • Spear of Leonidas • Staff of Hermes Trismegistus • Sword of Damokles) • Ships (Adrestia) • Skills • Social stealth • Story Creator Mode • Swimming • Viewpoints

Weapons and tools

Bows • Blunt weapons • Swords • Spears • Shields

DLC

The Blind King • Secrets of Greece • Legacy of the First Blade (Hunted • Shadow Heritage • Bloodline) • The Fate of Atlantis (Fields of Elysium • Torment of Hades • Judgment of Atlantis) • The Lost Tales of Greece • Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Era|Individuals|Isu}}
+{{Era|Animals|Isu}}
 {{WP-REAL|Medusa}}
+{{Spoilerhd|5 January 2019}}
 {{Merge|Medusa}}
-{{Spoilerhd|5 January 2019}}
 [[File:sabin-lalancette-artblast-fullsize-medusa-front-slalancette.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Ligeia]] as the Writhing Dread.]]
-The '''Writhing Dread''', otherwise known as '''Medusa''', was a hybrid beast created by the [[Isu]] as part of the [[Olympos Project]].
+The '''Writhing Dread''', also known as a '''gorgon''' or '''the Medusa''',<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref> was a type of hybrid beast created by the [[Isu]] as part of the [[Olympos Project]].
+A human would transmute into this creature upon contact with the [[Prize of the Medusa]]], one of the four [[Atlanis artifact]]s. Upon being slain, the artifact would transform the next individual who touches it into the beast.<ref name = "Twitter">[https://twitter.com/melqartiii/status/1061587398033883137 Mel MacCoubrey' Twitter]</ref>
+==Biology==
+The most distinctive mutation in a woman upon transforming into the Writhing Dread lay in her hair which transformed into a nest of fearsome [[snake]]s.<ref name="ACOd WD">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Writhing Dead]]</ref>
-The creature was a transmutated human; one changed by the [[Atlantis artifact]] that powered it. Each time the beast was slain, the [[Prize of the Medusa|artifact]] would transform the next who touched it into the Writing Dread.<ref name = "Twitter">[https://twitter.com/melqartiii/status/1061587398033883137 Mel MacCoubrey' Twitter]</ref>
+Far deadlier than the serpent strands, however, were her eyes which were capable of projecting a beam that gradually petrified its targets, transmuting their tissue into stone. Despite their calcified bodies, these victims could then be remotely controlled by the Writhing Dead as her own minions who fought on her behalf.<ref name="ACOd WD" />
+===Equipment and skills===
+Through the power of her sword, [[Ligeia]], as the Writhing Dead, was capable of shielding herself with a barrier, teleporting, and firing energy blasts.<ref name="ACOd WD"/>
 ==History==
 ===Creation===
-The Writhing Dread, alongside the rest of the creatures in the Olympos Project, were considered "pets" by a certain Isu faction that saw themselves gods.<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref>
+The Writhing Dread, alongside the rest of the creatures in the Olympos Project, were considered pets by a certain Isu faction that saw themselves as gods.<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref>
 ===Mythology===
-The most famous of the Writhing Dread's incarnations was the [[Medusa]] in [[Greece|Greek]] mythology.<ref name = "Twitter"/> In the legend, she was slain by [[Perseus]] with his [[Swords of Eden|sword]].<ref name="Glyph 5">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"]]</ref>
+The most famous of the Writhing Dread's incarnations was [[Medusa]] in [[Greece|Greek]] mythology.<ref name="Twitter"/> In the legend, she was slain by [[Perseus]] with his a [[Swords of Eden|Sword of Eden]].<ref name="Glyph 5">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"]]</ref>
 ===End of the "curse"===
-Up until 431 BCE, the creature resided in the [[Petrified Temple]] within the depths of the [[Petrified Valley]] on [[Lesbos]].<ref name="ACOd"/>
+In 431 BCE, the latest of victim of this mutation resided in the [[Petrified Temple]] within the depths of the [[Petrified Valley]] on [[Lesbos]].<ref name="ACOd"/>
-During the time of the [[Peloponnesian War]], an expedition traversed within the Valley and encountered the creature. All but one of the expedition party members were turned to stone by the Writhing Dread. Only the ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Zetes]] remained, having used his [[Gorgon Slayer|spear]]'s length to avoid her petrifying gaze. In the end a [[Daughters of Artemis|Daughter of Artemis]] arrived and dealt the final blow to the creature. Afterwards the woman touched the artifact and transformed into the new Writhing Dread.<ref name="ACOd HitS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Heavy is the Spear]]</ref>
+During the time of the [[Peloponnesian War]], an expedition traversed within the Valley and encountered the creature. All but one of the expedition party members were turned to stone by the Writhing Dread. Only the [[mercenary]] [[Zetes]] remained, having used his [[Gorgon Slayer|spear]]'s length to avoid her petrifying gaze. In the end, [[Ligeia]], a [[Daughters of Artemis|Daughter of Artemis]] arrived and dealt the final blow to the creature. Afterwards, the woman touched the artifact and transformed into the new Writhing Dread.<ref name="ACOd HitS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Heavy is the Spear]]</ref>
-At the height of the War, the ''misthios'' [[Kassandra]] gained entry into the Petrified Temple with the [[Gorgon Disk]] obtained from the Daughters of Artemis in order to find [[Ligeia]], the Daughter of Artemis "taken" by the creature, on behalf of her lover [[Bryce]]. Finding Ligeia, now the Writhing Dread herself, Kassandra was forced to kill her after she petrified and destroyed Bryce.<ref name="ACOd WD">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Writhing Dead]]</ref>
+At the height of the war, the ''misthios'' [[Kassandra]] gained entry into the Petrified Temple with the [[Gorgon Disk]] obtained from the Daughters of Artemis in order to find Ligeia on behalf of her lover [[Bryce]]. Encountering Ligeia, now the Writhing Dread herself, Kassandra was forced to kill her after she petrified and destroyed Bryce.<ref name="ACOd WD" />
 ===Legacy===
 After killing the final incarnation of the Writhing Dread, Kassandra claimed the artifact in order to seal off [[Atlantis]].
-The Medusa incarnation of the Writhing Dread and her encounter with Perseus endured as a myth into the modern day.
+Medusa'a incarnation as the Writhing Dread and her encounter with Perseus endure as a myth into the modern day.<ref name="Glyph 5" />
-==Weapons and characteristics==
-The Writhing Dread was a monstrous woman with [[snake]]s for hair, equipped with a sword. She was capable of projecting a beam that would gradually petrify its targets, which she could then control once turned into statues. Through the power of her sword she was also capable of shielding herself with a barrier, teleporting and shooting off energy blasts.<ref name="ACOd WD"/>
 ==Gallery==