Written in Stone
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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. 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. |
Written in Stone was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra/Alexios's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description
Chrysis had threatened the life of any priest who talked to Kassandra/Alexios about her mother. To avoid Chrysis's wrath, Timoxenos introduced Kassandra/Alexios to those who spoke, but who had no life to threaten.
Dialogue
Kassandra/Alexios approached a priest who was inscribing stone slabs within the Sanctuary of Asklepios. The priest turned to her as she approached.
- Timoxenos: Greetings, young one. Come to offer Asklepios a sacrifice?
- Kassandra/Alexios: No, but I'm searching for a Spartan mother who may have.
- Timoxenos: The great goddess Hera guides many mothers to this sacred place. Surely I'm too feeble to remember them all.
Kassandra/Alexios gestured towards the stone slabs.
- Kassandra/Alexios: What are these stone slabs for?
- Timoxenos: These are records. We document all who pass through - their illnesses, treatments - so that the glory of Asklepios can be celebrated.
- Kassandra/Alexios: Then I don't need your memory. I just need to find the right stone.
- Timoxenos: Um, yes, of course. That's very wise, indeed. If I had the time to help you...
(If the players chose "I won't hurt you.")
- Kassandra/Alexios: Listen, I'm not here to hurt you. I'm just looking for my mater.
- Timoxenos: It's Chrysis. She's got every priest in the sanctuary under her thumb, and she'll squash anyone who feeds information to the Eagle Bearer.
- Kassandra/Alexios: Then don't tell me anything - just bring me to the stone that can.
- Timoxenos: Follow me, then. Quickly, we must be discreet.
- Kassandra/Alexios: Lead the way.
Kassandra/Alexios followed Timoxenos to where she hoped would be stone engravings about her mother.
- Timoxenos: This way. Over here. If anyone is watching, they'll have my head.
- Kassandra/Alexios: What kind of sanctuary isn't safe for its priests?
- Timoxenos: Times have changed, Eagle Bearer.
They arrived at the tablets.
- Timoxenos: Ah! I remember this tale. Written during the time of the great Helot Revolt. You would have been only a child.
- Kassandra/Alexios: I don't need the history, just the details.
- Timoxenos: It tells the tale of a woman with worms in her throat. Asklepios took off her head so we could remove them, then reattached it in her sleep.
- Kassandra/Alexios: Definitely not the right one. I wonder what Hippokrates would think of these... treatments.
- Timoxenos: Hippokrates is a fine healer. Showed so much promise.
- Kassandra/Alexios: Showed? He's healing the sick right now.
- Timoxenos: He puts too much faith in his hands, and not enough in the gods.
- Kassandra/Alexios:: When it comes to life and death, I prefer hands. Are all the testimonies so... outrageous?
- Timoxenos: Writers today - Thucydides, Euripides, the petulant Aristophanes... All of them try for realism, but - what really inspires is greatness, magic, gods!
Near the guesthouse they found another slab.
- Timoxenos: This one tells the tale of a man with sword wounds. A pack of dogs licked him clean, and eureka! A man's best friend indeed.
- Kassandra/Alexios: This is hopeless.
- Timoxenos: These stories give people hope, Eagle Bearer.
- Kassandra/Alexios: Well, I'm losing mine. Tell me about Chrysis.
- Timoxenos: A very powerful, dangerous woman. But it was not always so. She was abandoned here as a child and taken in by the priests. Taught the ways of the gods. She learned very quickly, was very strong-willed, and before too long it was the priests who listened to her. She was loved. But there's an anger in her heart that could not be soothed. So when her methods turned to madness, anyone who opposed her got...
- Kassandra/Alexios: Got what?
- Timoxenos: I've already said too much.
They reached yet another slab.
- Kassandra/Alexios: And what about this one? Let me guess: it tells the tale of a blind woman who had her eyes licked by snakes.
- Timoxenos: It reads "Of Sparta. Came here with child. Sought pity from the gods."
- Kassandra/Alexios: Why is most of it scratched out?
- Timoxenos: Oh, I um... I'll just tell you. I know this one by heart. The Spartan woman arrived filthy and bleeding from her travels. We cared for her, gave her food, a bath, and she left. Where she went, I do not know. The child... could not be saved.
- Kassandra/Alexios: Who does know where she went?
Timoxenos noticed another priest watching them.
- Timoxenos: We've been spotted. Meet me later, near the Olive Tree of Herakles at the entrance of the sanctuary. I may have something for you.
The man approached them.
- Priest: And what do we have here, a priest and a mercenary out for a friendly stroll?
- Timoxenos: May the gods be with you, Pleistos! I was just on my way to the archives when this misthios bumped into me.
- Pleistos: Is that so? And what were you both chatting about so fervently, might I ask?
(If players choose "I was looking for the bath house.")
- Kassandra/Alexios: I'm filthy and could use a good bath. The kind priest here was pointing me in the direction of the bath house.
- Timoxenos: Erm, yes... that's correct. The bath house is right over there. Now if you'll excuse me.
- Pleistos: The baths are for healing the sick, not for washing the blood off one's hands. Leave.
(If players choose "We were talking about sword weounds.")
- Kassandra/Alexios: The good priest here was teaching me how to heal sword wounds.
- Timoxenos: Erm, yes... sword wounds...
- Pleistos: Oh really? And what is the treatment for sword wounds according to Timoxenos here?
(If the players choose "Dogs.")
- Kassandra/Alexios: Dogs.
- Pleistos: What about them?
- Kassandra/Alexios: You use the dogs to lick the wounds clean.
- Pleistos: Very good! Don't give away all our tricks, Timoxenos. Who will bring offerings to the gods when our patients learn to heal themselves?
- Timoxenos: No, no, of course not. Now if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to.
- Pleistos: You have your treatment, misthios. Now please leave the sanctuary.
Kassandra/Alexios left town, making her way to the Olive Tree of Herakles.
- Kassandra/Alexios: The tree of Herakles... I'm not sure if it's loved more for its legend or its olives. Now, where's that priest?
- Timoxenos: I thank you for your discretion, Eagle Bearer. Chrysis has many eyes and ears throughout the sanctuary.
- Kassandra/Alexios: What else can you tell me about the Spartan woman and child?
- Timoxenos: The woman left the child's blanket behind. We tried to return it, but it was too painful a memory for her.
- Kassandra/Alexios: Where did she go? What happened to the child?
Their meeting was interrupted by Pleistos accompanied by guards loyal to the Cult of Kosmos.
- Priest: So, Chrysis was right. You knew the rules, Timoxenos. You will suffer her wrath.
- Timoxenos: Pleistos, please!
- Kassandra/Alexios: Get behind me, priest. I'll deal with these two.
Outcome
Kassandra/Alexios learned about her mother and brother, and received his old blanket from a friendly priest, before they were attacked by a hostile priest and guards of the Cult of Kosmos.