Kassandra:Looks like they went this way into the forest. I don't think I'll find anything else. I should report back.
Kassandra returned to Dolios.
Dolios:So was it the Athenians?
Kassandra:I found some fragments of green crystal...
Dolios:Bandits then! The mountains here are riddled with caves, and the war has made them brazen.
Kassandra:If it was Athenians, they would have taken the carts as well as the supplies... And bandits, they wouldn't have stood a chance against trained Spartans.
Dolios:What are you saying?
Kassandra:Nothing about this adds up...
Dolios:In what way?
Kassandra:There's no bodies, at least not any assailants. Athenians would have taken the carts and their dead, but bandits would have left their fallen in the dust.
Dolios:Then who did it?
Kassandra:I'm not sure. Whoever did this went into the forest... So I'll start by looking there.
Kassandra headed into the forest. With Ikaros' help, she found a cave southwest of the Grave of Tereus.
Kassandra entered the cave and found a group of villagers with a bunch of supplies.
Kassandra:Is this a private gathering, or can anyone join?
Neaera:Wha... What are y... Please, please just leave.
Kassandra:You don't look like murderers, was that the Spartans' mistake?
Neaera:What? Wait! No, please you don't understand!
Kassandra:What's to understand? It all seems perfectly clear.
Neaera:Please, let me plead our case?
Kassandra:You are murderers and thieves, and deserve no better.
Neaera:Please, no! You don't understand, it was a mercenary that killed the soldiers!
Kassandra fought Neaera and the villagers.
Neaera:Please, no!
Civilian:Mercenaries attacked the wagons, not us!
Neaera:We were just hungry...
Kassandra eliminated the villagers and returned to Dolios.
Dolios:Kassandra Did you find the ones responsible?
Kassandra:I found your supplies with a bunch of hungry Megarians.
Dolios:And?
Kassandra:They won't trouble you again.
Kassandra:You'd better tell me why I shouldn't just kill you and return the goods.
Neaera:Please, I'll tell you anything you want to know.
Kassandra:You're the sorriest band of thieves I've ever seen.
Neaera:By the gods no! We're citizens of Megara. Please, show mercy. This war has already cost us dearly.
Kassandra:Like the mercy you showed those Spartan soldiers?
Neaera:I, we... We just took some food. Hyrkanos told us to take it, said he'd make it easy for us.
Kassandra:Hyrkanos?
Neaera:Yes, the mercenary. He said he'd provide food, told us the Athenians would never let their people go hungry.
Kassandra:Explain yourselves! It's not wise to anger the Spartans.
Neaera:Please, we're not thieves. This is our food, our crops. They took it, left us with nothing! Our children are starving...
Kassandra:So you repay theft with murder? A fine lesson for your children.
Neaera:Murder, no. Please, we never harmed anyone.
Civilian:A misthios told us where to find the food. Everyone was already dead!
Kassandra:Enough, I didn't come here for debate. It's too late for talk now. I came to find who's behind this crime against Sparta.
Kassandra:There is only one just punishment for your crime.
Civilian:It was our food to begin with!
Neaera:We either die here by your hand, or slowly starve later... If I'm to die, I would rather die fighting.
Kassandra eliminated the villagers and returned to Dolios.
Dolios:Kassandra Did you find the ones responsible?
Kassandra:I found your supplies with a bunch of hungry Megarians.
Dolios:And?
Kassandra:They won't trouble you again.
Kassandra:Stand aside, you don't need to die today. I'm returning the supplies to the Spartans.
Neaera:Then you will do so over our dead bodies!
Kassandra:Don't be stupid. Take some of the food, enough to get by. I'll say I killed you and claimed what was left. They will be satisfied.
Neaera:But the food, what of our families?!
Kassandra:Your families will not benefit from your death. Accept my offer and don't steal again. It won't be me who comes for you next time.
Neaera:Yes, misthios... Thank you. Hurry! Take what you can carry and go. Quick.
Kassandra took the supplies and returned to Dolios.
Dolios:Kassandra Did you find the ones responsible?
Kassandra:I found your supplies with a bunch of hungry Megarians.
Dolios:And?
Kassandra:You stole that food from them. They were starving.
Dolios:The supplies were essential for the war and ridding Megara of the Athenians.
Kassandra:Hungry Megarians are the least of your worries, but there's something else. Have you heard of a mercenary called Hyrkanos?
Dolios:Hyrkanos... Yes, he is working for the Athenians, so the rumours go.
Kassandra:This is all his doing.
Dolios:These mercenaries are persistent, I'll give them that. You've done well here, but if you really want to help Sparta, I have a task for you.
Kassandra:What do you have in mind?
Dolios:Hunt him down! Show him that no mercenary dog will interfere with Sparta's plans.
Kassandra:Since you have such a high opinion of mercenaries, why even send me?
Dolios:I'm sorry... It's just this man Hyrkanos is like a thorn in our foot. He's a menace to all Spartans here. Please, will you help us?
Kassandra:I'll do it. If he's this much trouble, I take it there's a sizeable reward?
Dolios:Of course! Just think of how much he'll have on him with all the drachmae Athens have given him to thwart our plans.
Kassandra:I suppose you're right... Any idea where to start looking?
Dolios:He could be anywhere. Most likely, he's nestled up close to the Athenians. We've sent out a couple of patrols, but they never returned, and we can't spare any more men at this time.
Kassandra:Sometimes you're better sending a woman, anyway.
Outcome
Kassandra decided the fate of the villagers who stole the supplies and reported to Dolios of the outcome.