To Find a Girl
To Find a Girl was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description
Kassandra followed Alkibiades's lead to Korinthia, a land of corrupt commerce and elusive hetaerae. So elusive were the hetaerae, in fact, Kassandra would have some trouble finding Anthousa, their leader.
Dialogue
Kassandra made her way to the Porneion in Korinthia.
- Kassandra: Korinth, the city of pots, prostitutes, and not much else. Alkibiades said the hetaerae here could help me find my mother. I should look around for Anthousa's whereabouts.
She soon found a civilian.
- Kassandra: I'm looking for Anthousa. Is she here?
- Civilian: Wouldn't I like to know. Sunrise, sunset, I save my drachmae for a taste of the divine. The hetaerae are hard to come by!
- Kassandra: So you haven't seen them.
- Civilian: Not with the Monger's army on the loose. The hetaerae won't tolerate that.
She encountered another civilian.
- Civilian: Haven't done something wrong, have I? Swear I haven't!
- Kassandra: If you have, you might see me later. I'm looking for Anthousa.
- Civilian: Phew.
- Kassandra: You know her?
- Civilian: No one really knows Anthousa. And the hetaerae got pushed out of here ages ago!
(If players choose "Why aren't they in the Porneion?")
- Kassandra: "Pushed out?" So someone didn't want them here.
- Civilian: We don't like to say his name - in case his men overhear. Just know the hetaerae were forced to move out of Korinth's markets.
(If players choose "I need to find them.")
- Kassandra: Can you tell me where they've gone?
- Civilian: I haven't seen them since, I swear it! I can't afford to pay 'em.
- Kassandra: Hm. Then I'll keep looking.
- Civilian: Someone around here's gotta know. 'Til then, I'll be on my best behavior, misthios!
Kassandra soon spotted a young woman.
- Kassandra: Are you Anthousa?
- Civilian: Me? Anthousa? I could be anyone for you, lamb. I charge less than the hetaerae, but do I ever know my way around a hay-bed!
- Kassandra: So her name means something to you.
- Civilian: Anthousa? She's been around forever, but I never met her. I know the hetaerae all work as one - on equal footing - but Anthousa's special. She talks - they listen.
(If players choose "Who are the hetaerae?")
- Kassandra: I haven't met any hetaerae yet.
- Civilian: Don't believe all you hear. They sell what a lot of us sell in Korinth - but for them, it's not just about the flesh. They're merchants of a sort. Streetwise - can talk as nice as they look.
- Kassandra: Sounds like a good trade to work in. You don't want to be a hetaerae?
- Civilian: Not in my prime anymore, am I, misthios? By the time I study what they did, I'll be serving clients on my deathbed!
(If players choose "Help me find the hetaerae.")
- Kassandra: If the hetaerae aren't here, where are they?
- Civilian: Their sort are too high-and-mighty to be down here in the dirt with us. You want 'em, you'll find 'em up on the hill - the Akrokorinth. By the Temple, keeping Aphrodite's worshippers satisfied.
With information in hand, Kassandra traveled to the Akrokorinth. When she arrived, thugs were threatening the worshippers.
- Civilian: Please, leave us!
- Monger Thug: The hetaerae! Where are they?!
- Civilian: The hetaerae aren't here!
- Monger Thug: Then you're gonna pay for the trouble we went through to find 'em.
- Kassandra: Who do they think they are? I need to stop them.
Kassandra killed the thugs, with the civilians helping by crying out warnings when more approached. Once victorious, she set about questioning the worshippers.
- Kassandra: Who were they? And why were they looking for the hetaerae?
- Civilian: Ai-ya! They think this temple is dedicated to them, the brutes.
- Kassandra: The thieves are here and the hetaerae aren't.
- Civilian: The hetaerae? They're much wiser than we are. They realized their visitors were all getting robbed on the way in.
- Civilian: There's no avoiding the Monger's men in Korinth.
(If players choose "Then I should look out for him.")
- Kassandra: I'll keep my guard up.
- Civilian: He craves money, misthios.
- Civilian: Not only that, but power. Once he smells it on you, you're a goner!
- Kassandra: So the Monger is a Korinthian criminal?
- Civilian: Master of the underground markets. He rules with one hand open for money, and the other clenched around a weapon.
- Civilian: A drachmae- and blood-hungry monster's what he is!
(If players choose "What does the Monger want from the hetaerae?")
- Kassandra: So he's hunting for the hetaerae. For money?
- Civilian: Exactly. Since the hetaerae bring in so much drachmae, he wants everything they control!
- Civilian: The thieves are better off robbin' them than us.
(If players choose "I'm looking for Anthousa.")
- Kassandra: If you know of the hetaerae, then you know of Anthousa. I'm looking for her.
- Civilian: They say she's everywhere, though I've never seen her. But the hetaerae see everything!
- Civilian: I've seen them gather by the Spring of Peirene, down the mountain. They meet clients there, and then take 'em elsewhere in secret.
- Kassandra: Good. Maybe pray to Aphrodite from home next time.
Kassandra made her way to the Spring in hopes of finding Anthousa.
- Anthousa: It shouldn't be long now. No, it won't be, I'm sure of it. Ah, so Kassandra has finally found us.
- Kassandra: You know me?
- Hetaera: And you know her. This is Anthousa.
- Anthousa: We saw you help the worshippers at the temple of Aphrodite. You've proven yourself a friend.
- Kassandra: Hear that, Ikaros? Her sight's as good as yours.
- Anthousa: Someone also spoke very highly of you.
- Phoibe: Surprise!
- Kassandra: Phoibe?
- Phoibe: Aspasia semt me! I work for her now, remember?
- Kassandra: But why here? Korinth isn't safe.
- Phoibe: I had to tell Anthousa you were coming! Aspasia taught me a new word: "emissary." That's me!
- Anthousa: And now Kassandra and I have met.
- Phoibe: See? This is easy! And now I can help you!
(If players choose "That would be great.")
- Kassandra: I guess that would be all right. Who knows what I'll get into?
- Phoibe: Yes!
- Kassandra: Just make sure you're extra careful.
- Anthousa: We need to move inside, Kassandra. We're not the only ones watching. Come with me, and we'll talk.
- Phoibe: Can I come?
- Kassandra: As long as you're quiet.
They walked inside the building.
- Anthousa: To what do I owe your visit?
- Kassandra: Alkibiades told me about you.
- Anthousa: Did he? Go on.
- Kassandra: I'm looking for a woman from Sparta - a runaway, long ago. She may have gone by the name of Myrrine.
- Phoibe: Who's that?
- Kassandra: She's my mother.
- Phoibe: Your mother? You don't have a mother! Markos told me he raised you!
- Kassandra: What did I tell you about talking?
- Anthousa: I see. There will be time to respond to your question, but that time isn't now.
(If players choose "So you've heard of her.")
- Kassandra: As long as you tell me what you know sooner or later.
- Anthousa: You'll have to trust me. You don't get to where I stand without credibility. My word is yours.
- Phoibe: And you can always trust Kassandra!
- Kassandra: Why don't you go play, Phoibe? Let me and Anthousa talk.
- Phoibe: If you say so.
- Anthousa: I propose a trade. Help me - help us - get stronger. Strong enough to rid Korinth of the Monger permanently. A simple transaction, I assure you.
(If players choose "It's a deal.")
- Kassandra: You have a deal.
- Anthousa: A wise decision, dear misthios.
- Kassandra: I haven't made it this far being a fool. I know when to take a chance.
- Anthousa: Then we're in business. Now. You've heard of the Monger?
(If players choose "I hear he's dangerous.")
- Kassandra: From what the worshippers say, he's someone I should watch out for.
- Anthousa: They're right. I'm sure his victims wish they'd been more vigilant. My eyes are wide open.
- Kassandra: Then you've held your ground well. You're not dead.
- Anthousa: Not yet, anyway. But he's employed enough thugs to amass a small army. Now they're attacking people in the street - us included.
- Kassandra: He's been killing hetaerae?
- Anthousa: Killing? We're smarter than that. But action must be taken before it goes that far. I'm not the only one who needs help. My girls, Damalis and Erinna, are suffering too.
- Kassandra: More Monger trouble?
- Anthousa: I wouldn't doubt it. Work against their aggressors, and then it will be his turn to suffer. You'll find Damalis here at the spring, but Erinna has gone to Bellerophron's Garden.
(If players choose "What is Erinna's problem?")
- Kassandra: What's wrong with Erinna?
- Anthousa: She's looking for Kleio - another hetaerae - who's gone missing. I've been too distracted to help in the search.
(If players choose "What is Damalis's problem?")
- Kassandra: Has Damalis told you what's wrong?
- Anthousa: She hasn't told me much, but I know these girls as well as I know myself. Something's not right.
(If players choose "I'll talk to them.")
- Kassandra: I'll see what I can do for them.
- Anthousa: Good. The Monger feeds his thugs with the drachmae he makes smuggling - weapons mostly, which is all the more lucrative now that he has a war to supply.
- Kassandra: So if someone interrupts the Monger's supply, his men go hungry.
- Anthousa: Exactly. Go to his warehouse in the Port of Lechaion and burn his cargo. All of it. We'll let chaos take care of the rest.
(If players choose "Why does the Monger bother stealing?")
- Kassandra: Why rob people who can't put two drachmae together if he has a business? It's illegitimate, but gets him rich.
- Anthousa: Even the smuggling is a front. He steals slaves - innocents, who shouldn't be harmed. But his thugs can burn.
(If players choose "Why burn the warehouse?")
- Kassandra: Seems to me that burning his biggest source of income is asking for trouble.
- Anthousa: I want to put new muscle I've acquired on show. Plus, violence is the only language he understands.
- Kassandra: I know many people who speak that language.
(If players choose "I'll do it.")
- Kassandra: Then the warehouse will be cinders.
Outcome
TBA