Greek choice game

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(Warning: This game contains violent material) The year is 1150 B.C.E. You are a young man in ancient Greece, walking alone down a dirt path. You have been told by the Oracle at Delphi that great adventure and acclaim await you, should you be worthy. The path splits in two. [[Turn Left |The Harbour]] [[Turn Right |The Mountain Path]]

You take the road to the harbour. There, a boat waits to sail you home to Ithaca. You have been abroad in Athens to study and cannot wait to return home to your mother after all this time. On the second day of your journey a great wind sets you off course and your boat drifts towards a small, rocky island. Before your captain can right the course, your boat is captured by Cyclopses who inhabit the island. They abduct all passengers and the largest of them, Polyphemus, stores you in his own chambers. You trip as you step over the threshold and Polyphemus seizes you by the collar. He forces you to apologise, and demands your name. [[Give your name|Poison or wine][$Polyphemus = 2]] [[Refuse|Poison or wine][$Polyphemus = 1]]

You continue down the wooded path which leads up into treacherous mountain roads. A giant, half the height of a pine tree, emerges from the greenery ahead of you. He carries a mighty weapon, bloodied at the tip. You have heard stories of the fearsome Periphetes, son of Gods, who beats and robs travellers with his bronze club. You pause as he tests the weight of his weapon, bouncing it between his hands. He hasn't spotted you yet. [[Sneak Past |Into the thicket]] [[Taunt him |Victory]] <<set $Theseus to 0>>

The ground is uneven and strewn with twigs and rocks. Your steps are loud enough to make rodents flee, and he spots you immediately. He attacks you, swings his great club across your arm. You manage to flee into the thicket, tripping on exposed roots and toppling down the slope. You leave a trail of blood behind you and lose any indication of the road, but he does not pursue you. You walk blindly through the wood. You hope to come across a path soon, especially because the sun is soon to set and you fear what awaits you in the dark. A noise coming from a bush draws your attention. You freeze, hoping it was merely a figment of your imagination, but it comes again. [[Investigate the noise|Cliff][$Theseus_route = 2]] [[Avoid the bush|Boar!]]

You call out to him. He turns, swings his club over his shoulders. He grins. He's halfway to you in two quick strides. "I thought you'd be bigger," you laugh. "I bet you can't even look a Cyclops in the eye." He swings at you. You dodge it, narrowly. "And that club? It's not even bronze, is it? Just scrap metal. Probably worthless." "Worthless?! Does this feel worthless?!" He hurls the club in your direction. You manage to duck just in time and it crashes into the tree behind you. Wood explodes above your head and the club lands at your feet. You pick it up and beat him with his own weapon. He was right, it's an incredible club, and he is no match for it. When the fight is over you continue down the mountain road. [[Take the club |A Traveller][$Theseus = 1]] [[Leave the Club |A Traveller]]

He leads you to a tall tree and a set of ropes. <<if $Theseus>> Along the way he keeps commenting on the club. He asks you its weight, how much it cost you. He repeatedly tries to touch it so you keep yourself at arms length.<<else>> Along the way he asks what you're carrying with you. He seems displeased when you tell him you have nothing of worth.<<endif>> You notice a terrible smell as you step into the woodline behind him, like rott. You have the feeling now that this may have been a mistake and you don't trust this man's intentions. As he leans forward to grab the first of the ropes you see an opportunity. <<if $Theseus is 1>>[[Tie his foot with the rope|The Worthy Challenger][$Theseus_route = 1]]<<else>>[[Tie his foot with rope|Athens][$Athens = 1]]<<endif>> [[Hit him across the head with a rock|Hospitality]]

A man approaches you near the mountain's peak. He is broad shouldered and carries a bag, your eye catches on something golden inside. <<if $Theseus is 1>>He notices the bronze club slung over your shoulder. He says you must be a strong man, calls you a hero.<<else>>"Young man," he says, "could you spare a minute to help a traveller?" <<endif>> He asks you to help him bend the pine trees. As he's explaining to you how he will use ropes to fold the trunk, you notice the bottom of his tunic is strained with red. [[Help him|Pine Tree]] [[Refuse|Cliff][$Theseus_route = 1]]

<<if $Theseus_route is 1>>You tie his foot while he isn't looking and prepare for a quick getaway. He hoists on the pullies and grips the tree, handing it off to you. You move as though to take it but release at the last second. Unknown to you, the ropes on the ground had been tied to another tree, and as you release the pine, the man's body is propelled by the momentum and torn in two. You are covered in blood and guts, but realise how lucky you are to be alive: he led you here to kill you.<<else>> You grab a discarded length of rope and sling it around the boar's throat. In its panic it thrusts away, allowing you to mount its back. You pull the rope as tight as you can until the beast is dead. You tear one of his huge tusks from his mouth and keep it as a souvenir. Soon, you rediscover the mountain road.<<endif>> You continue your travels until, finally, you reach Athens. Word of your conquests has arrived with you and the King of Athens, Aegaes, comes out to meet you. You face him brandishing your <<if $Theseus is 1>>glorious bronze club, proof of your conquest of the infamous and deadly bandit.<<endif>><<if $Theseus is 2>>giant boar's tooth. The beast had terrorized the Athenian trails for years, and here you stood with proof of its defeat.<<endif>> Aegaes offers you a bold choice: he wishes to face you in a wrestling match and, should you win, you will inherit all of Athens. To lose is death. To refuse is death. You may choose your weapon. <<if $Theseus is 1>>[[Use the club|Athens as hero][$Athens_h = 2]]<<endif>> [[Use a sword|Athens as King]] <<if $Theseus is 2>>[[Use the tooth|Athens as hero][$Athens_h = 2]]<<endif>>

You spot a rock near the trunk of the tree and strike the man before he can finish tugging on the ropes. He collapses to the ground with a grunt but has already begun to rise weakly to his feet when you flee down the mountain road. You walk for 4 more hours. Your body is sore, your eyes heavy. The sun is slipping close to the horizon. Finally, you come across a cabin near the road. A man comes out to greet you and offers you a bed for the night. Exhaustion overcomes you and you feel near collapse. [[Accept his invitation|Stretch]] [[Decline his invitation|Athens][$Athens = 2]]

<<if $Athens is 1>>You tie his foot while he isn't looking and prepare for a quick getaway. He hoists on the pullies and grips the tree, handing it off to you. You move as though to take it but release at the last second. Unknown to you, the ropes on the ground had been tied to another tree, and as you release the pine, the man's body is propelled by the momentum and torn in two. You are covered in blood and guts, but realise how lucky you are to be alive: he led you here to kill you. You finally finish your trek and arrive in Athens. No fame or fortune await you. You try to share stories of your travels but no one believes you. You have no spoils to flaunt, only your own wounds. Only the priestess believes you. Her name is Megara and you are struck by her beauty and kindness. She sees in you a spirit and asks if she can take you somewhere very special to her. <<endif>><<if $Athens is 3>>You grasp depserately for a handhold in the cliff face but as your fingers dig in the rock cracks away. You fall into the waves in a storm of rock and dust. A sea monster is waiting for you; a savage turtle the size of a temple. It snaps wildly, searching for its feast, but the dust has disoriented it. You are thrown about in the raging water and collide against the rock. When you wake, you are in Athens. A beautiful priestess tends to your wounds. Her hands are gentle and her voice kind. She tells you that her name is Megara. She is the only Athenian to look upon you with compassion rather than ridicule. You arrived to their city with no spoils or fame but she recognizes a spirit in you. It takes days for you to find your strength again and when you do she asks if she can take you somewhere very special to her. <<endif>><<if $Athens is 4>>You grab the man by the arm. He is startled and tries to shake you off but he is frail and you are able to propel him over the edge. You both fall into the waves, where a sea monster is waiting; a savage turtle the size of a temple. It snaps wildly, searching for its feast, and finds the old man first. He begs for his life. He claims he's fed the monster hundreds of travellers' souls, but the creature is unmoved. You are able to swim to safety while the man is being devoured. You wash up to shore where a beautiful woman finds you. She tells you she is a priestess. When you ask where you are she tells you, "Athens." It takes days for you to find your strength again and the priestess, Megara, waits with you each morning and night. She is the only Athenian to look upon you with compassion rather than ridicule. You arrived to their city with no spoils or fame but she recognizes a spirit in you and asks if she can take you somewhere very special to her. <<endif>><<if $Athens is 5>>You shove the vial back in his face and it spills across his chest. The fumes put you both under a spell. Your head aches, your body weighs you down. Both of you topple over the edge of the cliff where a sea monster awaits; a savage turtle the size of a temple. It snaps wildly, searching for its feast. The sea turns red as it finds the old man. You are thrown about in the raging water and collide against the rock. When you wake, you are in Athens. A beautiful priestess tends to your wounds. Her hands are gentle and her voice kind. She tells you that her name is Megara. She is the only Athenian to look upon you with compassion rather than ridicule. You arrived to their city with no spoils or fame but she recognizes a spirit in you. It takes days for you to find your strength again and when you do she asks if she can take you somewhere very special to her. <<endif>><<if $Athens is 6>>You slip through the door and out into the hallway. You see movement coming toward you so you hide in the room opposite yours. In this room you find another bed, like yours but larger. There are ropes dripping with blood slung over the edges and blades propped up against the walls. You hear Procrustes' heavy tread as he approaches your room. You escape through the window before he can realise you aren't where he left you and comes looking. <<endif>><<if $Athens is 2>>You respectfully decline and attempt to move back onto the mountain road but he steps in your path. Spurned by your rejection, he attacks you. You are so tired you can't put up much of a fight and barely escape with your life.<<endif>><<if $Theseus is 1>>You have lost your spoils and limp away without your bronze club.<<endif>><<if $Athens is 2>> You find your way into Athens, bleeding, filthy and exhausted, under the cover of nightfall. No fame or fortune awaits you, you feel hopeless. You collapse against the side of a building where a beautiful young woman finds you. She tells you she is a priestess by the name of Megara. She treats your wounds with gentle hands and your trouble with kindness.She asks if she can take you somewhere very special to her. <<endif>><<if $Athens is 6>>You arrive, finally, to Athens. No fame or fortune awaits you, you feel hopeless. You collapse against the side of a building where a beautiful young woman finds you. She tells you she is a priestess by the name of Megara. She treats your wounds with gentle hands and your trouble with kindness. She asks if she can take you somewhere very special to her. <<endif>>She takes you to a place just past the agora, where you face two grand statues. She brushes a strand of matted hair from your face and tells you there is no day too dark for a hero. If you seek guidance, all you must do is ask. Her faith in her Gods inspires you, and her faith in you warms you. You look to the mighty statues. One stands tall and proud, brandishing a bolt of lightening in his fist. The sun shines against the lines of his face. The other is a darkner figure, cloaked to his ankles and bearded. He stands in shadow. [[Pray to Zeus|Heracles]] [[Pray to Hades|Hades]]

<<if $Theseus_route is 1>> You refuse his offer for help, which enrages him. He attacks you. He is shockingly strong- arms that bend trees- and easily overpowers you.<<endif>> <<if $Theseus is 1>> He takes the club from you before you manage to break from beneath him. <<endif>> <<if $Theseus_route is 2>> A viper waits in the greenery. As you kneel to probe the bush it strikes. A sharp hiss is all the warning you get, but it's enough to flinch away. The snake shoots into the woods behind you, frightening a wild boar which had been approaching at your back. The beast squeels and scurries away, both creatures disappearing into the wilderness. You hike in the opposite direction, heart racing. Soon you rediscover the mountain road.<<endif>><<if $Theseus_route is 3>>You grab a rock and swing with all your might. You miss the boar's head, but the momentum allows you to roll out from under him and the attack frightens the beast away. You dust yourself off and hike in the opposite direction, looking over your shoulder all the way. Eventually you rediscover the mountain road.<<endif>> You flee down the path, bleeding and tired.<<set $Theseus to 0>> You walk until the sun has almost disappeared beyond the edge of the world. Your bones ache. You worry the scent of your blood is attracting wildlife. Finally, you come across an elderly man near the edge of a cliff. He is thin and frail and he holds a thick bag. He says it carries medicine. He offers you salve for your wounds if you only wash his feet. [[Agree|Cliff's Edge]] [[Continue on your way|Poison]]

You pace slowly away from the strange noise, back turned to the wildnerness. You are so preoccupied with the bush that you miss the precious seconds of warning as a wild boar charges behind you. It collides against your back, throwing you to the dirt. Your bloody and broken arm has sent it into a frenzy. You try to dodge or to flee but the thing is too fast and gets you on your back. Your hands search the floor of the woods for any kind of weapon. [[Grab a rock|Cliff][$Theseus_route = 3]] [[Grab a length of rope|The Worthy Challenger][$Theseus = 2]]

You shake hands in agreement. He stands by the cliff's edge and passes you a cloth for his feet. The roar of the waves against the rock many feet below is so loud it startles you. You glance down and see waves so green and violent you feel as though they stare back at you. You kneel before the man, back to the ocean, and begin cleaning his feet. The man's stance shifts and for a moment you fear he is falling, until his foot hits you in the centre of the chest and propels you backwards. [[Grab the clifface|Athens][$Athens = 3]] [[Grab the man's arm|Athens][$Athens = 4]]

You gratefully decline his generous offer and begin back on your travels. However, before you can get to the treeline the man has come up behind you with a vial of poison. He tries to force it down your throat. [[Push away|Athens as hero][$Athens_h = 1]] [[Use his poison against him|Athens][$Athens = 5]]

<<if $Athens_h is 1>>You shove him away. He stumbles and falls off the edge of the cliff. You rush to his aid but are too late. He falls into the mouth of the waiting sea monster; a savage turtle the size of a temple. The creature chokes, wails into the sunset, and dies. The waves turn black with poison. You finally finish your trek and arrive in Athens, but your reputation preceeds you. They have heard of the man who defeated the sea beast and the deceitful old man who pushed unwitting travellers to their death. They escort you to the palace. The King gives you his thanks and the people of Athens host a festival in your honour. You stand tall and proud as they shower you in jewels and trinkets. You are surrounded in gold but nothing in Athens compares to the beauty of the Priestess you meet on your thrid day. Her name is Megara and she considers you with humility. You think of her morning and night. One day, she asks if she can take you somewhere very important to her.<<endif>><<if $Athens_h is 2>>Although tired you put up a good fight. It seems as though the battle is lost for the Athenian king. Then he steals your weapon and the battle turns. Aegeas beats you nearly to death until someone stops him. You fall into unconsciousness to the sweet sound of a woman's voice and gentle hands over your sore, bruised skin. When you wake she is there with you; a priestess named Megara. She tells you that, while you are not King, the people of Athens hail you as a hero. For 5 days the Athenians shower you in jewels and trinkets, but nothing in Athens could compare to the beauty of Megara. You think of her day and night. One day, she asks if she can take you somewhere very important to her.<<set $Theseus to 0>><<endif>><<if $Athens_h is 3>>You lay in wait. You still your breaths to focus on the noises. You hear the clatter of chains and the unmistakable groan of something thick and metal being dragged along the floor. You hear heavy feet approaching and sneak out from the bed in time to meet him at the door. Procrustes steps into the room with an axe in hand but is unprepared for your ambush. You leap out from behind the door and pull the weapon from his hands and cut his head from his shoulders. You return to your travels and keep the axe for good measure. When you finally arrive in Athens early the next morning they are astounded at the sight of your mighty weapon. They've heard many stories of the deceitful Proctrustes and his beds; they tell you he forced his guests to fit their beds, either by cutting off their limbs or by stretching their bodies. The Athenians are so in awe of your victory that they hail you a hero. The King gives you his thanks and the people of Athens host a festival in your honour. You stand tall and proud as they shower you in jewels and trinkets. You are surrounded in gold but nothing in Athens compares to the beauty of the Priestess you meet on your thrid day. Her name is Megara and she considers you with humility. You think of her morning and night. One day, she asks if she can take you somewhere very important to her.<<endif>> She takes you to a place just past the agora, where you face two grand statues. She brushes a strand of matted hair from your face and tells you that your legacy is only just beginning. If you give thanks to the Gods, you will be blessed for many years to come. Her faith in her Gods inspires you, and her faith in you warms you. You look to the mighty statues. One stands tall and proud, brandishing a bolt of lightening in his fist. The sun shines against the lines of his face. The other is a darkner figure, cloaked to his ankles and bearded. He stands in shadow. [[Pray to Zeus|Heracles]] [[Pray to Hades|Hades]]

The fight is one for the history books. You are young, at your peak. Your long trek through the mountains has filled you with courage and passion. However, it has also made you tired. While you put up a good fight you can feel your body beginning to give under the pressure. You are almost ready to succumb when the King attempts to steal your sword, leaving himself vulnerable. You strike and the day is yours. Athens erupts into chaos. The people have lost their king to a usurper and, while honour bound to uphold his oath, they have no real faith or loyalty to you. You fear an assassination attempt. You turn to the only Athenian to show you kindness: a priestess named Megara. After the battle she was the only citizen willing to tend to your wounds. She touched you softly, spoke to you with honesty and compassion. She haunted your dreams. You knew if there was salvation for you, she would be its carrier. She takes you to a place just past the agora, where you face two grand statues. She brushes a strand of matted hair from your face and tells you that Athens may still come to love you, if you show them your true strength. You need only ask the Gods for guidance. Her faith in her Gods inspires you, and her faith in you warms you. You look to the mighty statues. One stands tall and proud, brandishing a bolt of lightening in his fist. The sun shines against the lines of his face. The other is a darkner figure, cloaked to his ankles and bearded. He stands in shadow. [[Pray to Zeus|Heracles][$King = 1]] [[Pray to Hades|Minotaur]]

You gratefully accept his hospitality. He makes you a hot meal and a bed and you fall into it for the night. Sometime before morning you are woken by noises in the darkness. They seem to be coming from the other side of the door. Now that you are more aware you also notice the red rust on the ends of the bedframe and the chains that dangle over the edge of the cabinet. [[Stay in bed|Athens as hero][$Athens_h = 3]] [[Get up and investigate|Athens][$Athens = 6]]

Zeus appears to you as an apparition. He tells you that the Oracle is right, you have been destined for greatness since your birth. This is because you are his son. He came to your mother in a dream and conceived you. He is gone before you can ask for any kind of instruction or comfort. However, as he's fading you feel a great power sieze you. It is the power of the skies, the power of storms. You feel invincible, like you could fight the world. You turn to Megara, to share your delight, but as you find her face a different power finds you. Ice sprouts in your stomach and expands until the tips of your fingers shiver. A frenzy errupts inside you. The world turns red. You are alight with Hera's Godly fury. The first thing that returns to you is the sound of screams. When you finally come back to yourself, like waking from a dream, it takes you a moment to recognise Megara among the carnage. You are weeping when the Athenian guard arrests you. You stand before the <<if $King>>Court and tell them<<else>>King and tell him<<endif>> how Hera cursed you for the infidelity of her Godly husband, Zeus. You tell <<if $King>>them<<else>>him<<endif>> you were a victim of righteous jealousy. Athens finds you guilty none-the-less. Before you can be executed <<if $King>>Aegeas' son, Theseus, now King after your trial,<<else>>the King<<endif>> comes to you with a bargain. He sets for you 3 tasks with 3 precious rewards. If you can retrieve one and return it to him, you may be pardoned of your heinous crimes.<<set $death_hydra to 0>><<set $death_mares to 0>><<set $death_apples to 0>> Where do you begin? <<set $HH to 1>><<set $HM to 1>><<set $HA to 1>><<set $Heracles to 0>> [[The Hydra|Hydra]] [[The Mares of Diomedes|Mares]] [[The Golden Apples of the Hesperides|Apples]]

Hades, God of the Underworld, comes to you as an apparition. Inspired by your prayer, he offers you the chance to travel to his domain and return with the soul of your beloved mother. Raising a soul from the dead will grant you honour and esteem. You may be considered among the likes of Heracles, Odysseus, Achilles. Megara gifts you one golden drachma to pay Charon, the ferryman, as passage over the river Styx into Hades, and you set off on your own. On your way to the gateway of Hades, a strong young man appears behind you. He swings his sword at your horse and startles it while you are getting water from the river. The horse is spooked and flees into the woods. The man says he had heard of a traveller waging battle across Athenian roads and challenges you to a fight. [[Reason with him|Lose drachma]] [[Fight him|Pirithuos]]

You pray to the shadowy figure and become so lost in your thoughts that when you look back the sun has set and Megara is gone. You go to bed restless that night, and your dreams are haunted with images of monstous bulls and mazes of blood. When you wake, you know what yout must do. Every year King Minos of Crete accepts a tribute of 7 young Athenian men and 7 young Athenian women as payment for some past injustice by Athens. These tributes keep the kingdoms from war, but the stories say they are delivered to a great beast. If you can defeat this beast and lift Athens from beneath the boot of King Minos, they will accept you as their king and saviour. You join the tribute to be sent to Crete. On the journey you <<if $Theseus is 1>>practise swinging your bronze club, perfecting your balance. <<endif>><<if $Theseus is 2>>carve the boar's tooth to a sharpened edge. <<endif>>When you arrive, they strip you of your weapons and armour. King Minos stands at the base of his court to greet you. His eldest daughter, Ariadne, stands to his left, watching the ground with studied concentration. To his right is Daedalus, the architect of the labyrinth of the monster. He looks you in the eye for just a moment. You see regret there, but it only lasts a moment. Soldiers escort you to a crowded hall. They chuck you lengths of cloth to fold into pillows and nothing else. That night, the guards on duty drink too much wine and fall asleep. You are able to sneak past them. [[Seek out Princess Ariadne|Ariadne]] [[Seek out Daedalus|Daedalus]]

You travel to Lerna in search of the 3-headed Hydra. King Aegaes wants you to collect its venom for him. You follow the swampy water path of the valleys. The night is dark. The sailors that brought you here wouldn't dare step foot on the land. As you venture deeper into the swamp you notice a greenish fog which curls along your toes. Dead fish tap against your shins. A stench makes your eyes water and there's a noise in the darkness like the ground itself were shifting.<<if $death_hydra is 0>><<set $Heracles to $Heracles + 1>><<endif>> <<set $HH to 0>> [[Step back and light a match|Death HH]] [[Cover your mouth and step into the darkness|First encounter]]

You travel to Thrace, along the shores of the black sea. Here resides the King, Diomedes, and his herd of wild, carnivorous mares. They guard the woods around his castle and are said to be as tall as any man and impossibly strong and quick. They devour all trespassers. Only Diomedes can control them, with a flute he keeps on his person at all times. Aegeas wants you to bring him these mares and the flute so he can set them upon his enemies. You sneak through the forest as quietly as you are able. Nearly an hour passes and you are sure you must be approaching the castle. Then you hear a noise just ahead of you. One of the mares appears from the greenery. You can see its hot breath in the night.<<set $HM to 0>><<if $death_mares is 0>><<set $Heracles to $Heracles + 1>><<endif>> [[Make a run for it|Diomedes]] [[Wait for it to pass|Death HM one]]

King Aegaes has tasked you wth returning to him three of the golden apples of the Hesperides - nymphs of the light of sunsets. They say the apples will grant profound strength and wisdow to whoever eats them. However, they grow in a Godly rhealm beyond where even you, son of Zeus, can walk to lay your eyes upon, on a tree so tall it breaks the sky. You must seek assistance. Somewhere in the mountains to the east is Prometheus: infamous for stealing from Gods, punished for his treachery. To the west is Atlas: large enough to hold the world on his shoulders, punished for his loyalty. <<set $HA to 0>><<set $Heracles to $Heracles + 1>> [[Go to the East|Success HA]] [[Go to the West|Failure HA]]

The match lights, and the green fog lights as well. Fire erupts in all directions, up to your neck. The last thing you ever see is the haunting, reptilian eyes of the Hydra. <<set $death_hydra to 1>> [[redo last decision|Hydra]]

You tredge deeper into the vile water and feel something move across the back of your legs. [[Slash with your sword|Extra heads one]] [[Stand still|Hydra attacks one]]

You slice clean through one of the necks of the Hydra. It cries out and reels away from you. Your satisfaction is short lived. From the bloodied stump grows two more heads and now all four have their eyes on you. [[Lunge for the chest|Failure HH one]] [[Seek higher ground|Blind]]

The Hydra attacks. [[Seek higher ground|drowning]] [[Swing sword|Extra heads one]]

You lunge with all your strength toward the monster's body, but you miss. You dive full-body into the swampy water. The Hydra pins you beneath the surface. Desperate for breath, you're forced to hack away at the Hydra's leg to free yourself. You wash up on the shore, gasping for breath. When you turn back the Hydra has disappeared. You suspect it has retreated into the cavernous valleys to lick its wounds, but pursuing it in your condition would be a death sentence. You have no option but to give up. <<if $Heracles is 3>>You have failed in your adventures and will not receive a pardon from the King. Too ashamed to live as a fugitive and criminal, you return to Athens to receieve your punishment. Before your death you pray that Megara has found peace.<<else>>You seek the King's next treasure: <<endif>><<if $HM>>[[The Mares of Diomedes|Mares]] <<endif>><<if $HA>>[[The Golden Apples of the Hesperides|Apples]]<<endif>>

You scramble up the cliff face. One of the heads tries to take a bite of you and you swing blindly with your sword. You cut it across its eyes and this head cries out in pain. It swings wildly, clapping its jaws into open space - blood running from both eyes. Another head moves to attack the injured head, and you: [[Blind it|Death HH two]] [[Decapitate it|HH success]]

You have blinded two of the heads, which sends the Hydra into a panic. It breathes fire across the swamp and the green fog ignites. Everything erupts into flame and both you and the monster die. While you died without your royal pardon, you at least will be remembered as the man who slayed the mighty Hydra. [[redo last decision|Blind]]

You lunge forward to slit the neck of the closest head. You succeed and your momentum sends you deep into the swampy water. With two heads blinded and one yet to regrow, the monster goes into a frenzy with the last remaining head breathing fire across the landscape. You witness the world erupt into red flame through many feet of water. The Hydra dies in its own fire, and you emerge from the swamp choking on rancid water but victorious. You collect her venom in a vial to return to the King. On your three day sail back to Athens you pray each night to Megara and you keep the Hydra venom close to your breast. There is nothing in the world more important to you right now than accomplishing your mission. However, just as you arrive to the border of Athens, Hades appears to you. He has been moved by your prayers and wants to offer you the chance to return Megara to life. He tells you that if you can pass his guard dog, Cerberus, without being killed, you can have the priestess' soul to return to the land of the living. <<set $Heracles_win to 1>> [[Continue to Athens|Final Athens]] [[Accept Hades' offer|Cerberus]]

You arrive to the court of the King with your prize. <<if $Heracles_win is 1>>You bow before him and present the vial of Hydra venom. He takes it from your hands in awe of such a gift. You look up at him expecting your royal pardon but instead you see him lining his dagger with one drop of the venom. Before you can ask what he's doing he has slit your throat and your veins burn with poison.<<endif>><<if $Heracles_win is 2>>The mares, saddled and muzzled, walk in behind you. The soldiers who hold their leads are shaking and the Athenians press against the walls to be as far from the beasts as they can. But the King, he just smiles. You bow before him and present the flute to him. Before you can raise your head and seek your pardon a short, piercing note rings out and the mares smash against their restraints. The court erupts into chaos and a moment later hooves are across your throat and chest.<<endif>><<if $Heracles_win is 3>>You bow before him and present the apples. He takes them from you in awe of such a gift. You look up at him expecting your royal pardon but instead you watch him bite into one of the apples. Gold runs up his veins and he grins. He takes his new Godly strength and snaps your neck.<<endif>> You die a martyr: the people of Athens are insulted by the King's dishonourable behaviour and turn against him. He is powerful and victory is costly, but eventually he is defeated and a new order is founded. You are remembered by a new generation not as a murderer or a madman, but a hero.

You scramble up the rock cliff face to your right, but it is slippery with slime and algae. You slip and dislodge an avalanche of mossy rocks. The largest lands on one of the Hydra's heads, pinning it beneath the water. This must have been the head which breathed the noxous green fog, because the air begins to clear of it. [[Cut off poison head|Extra heads one]] [[Cut off other head|Attack HH two]]

You cut the last head from its body and slump back against the rocks, relieved. Suddenly, you realise the necks are still moving, growing, and from each severed neck emerges two new heads. They easily free the toxous head from where it's trapped and suddenly there are 5. You have no option but to flee. <<if $Heracles is 3>>You have failed in your adventures and will not receive a pardon from the King. Too ashamed to live as a fugitive and criminal, you return to Athens to receieve your punishment. Before your death you pray that Megara has found peace.<<else>>You seek the King's next treasure: <<endif>><<if $HM>>[[The Mares of Diomedes|Mares]] <<endif>><<if $HA>>[[The Golden Apples of the Hesperides|Apples]]<<endif>>

You manage to leap from the line of fire, and in chasing you the head breathes flame over the stump of the other, and it squeels. With only one head left, and knowing that it is weak to its own fire, you again lure the monster to you and force it to light itself on fire. You collect her venom in a vial to return to the King. On your three day sail back to Athens you pray each night to Megara and you keep the Hydra venom close to your breast. There is nothing in the world more important to you right now than accomplishing your mission. However, just as you arrive to the border of Athens, Hades appears to you. He has been moved by your prayers and wants to offer you the chance to return Megara to life. He tells you that if you can pass his guard dog, Cerberus, without being killed, you can have the priestess' soul to return to the land of the living. <<set $Heracles_win to 1>> [[Continue to Athens|Final Athens]] [[Accept Hades' offer|Cerberus]]

You slice clean through one of the necks of the Hydra and the head rolls into the muddy waters. The stump seems to breath, to stretch, but before you can recognise what is happening the last head attacks. [[Cut head off|HH failure two]] [[Dodge|HH success two]]

You travel to Hades and use your <<if $Heracles_win is 1>>hydra venom <<endif>><<if $Heracles_win is 2>>flute <<endif>><<if $Heracles_win is 3>>apples <<endif>>to pay the ferryman and cross the river styx. You come to Cerberus. He sits on the riverbank, licking bones. [[Step out in front of Cerberus|Challenge]] [[Sneak past him|Failure Cerberus 1]]

Just as you leap from the undergrowth a wolf pounces on a rabbit to your right and draws the mare's attention. As they fight you are able to make your lucky getaway. Just before sunrise you find yourself at the door of Diomedes' castle. Arrogant of his mares, there is no lock. You enter the home and find him sleeping soundly in his bed. [[Wake him|Promise]] [[Kill him|Flute]]

You hold your breath and keep perfectly still. The mare is almost disappeared again into the treeline and you breathe a sigh of relief. Just then, a rabbit bounds past you, snapping every twig along the way. The mare gallops right back at you and uncovers you in the undergrowth. You fight back with all your might and wound it with your Athenian sword, but the scent of blood attracts the rest of the herd and you are overwhelmed. By sunrise there is nothing left of you but bones. <<set $death_mares to 1>> [[redo last decision|Mares]]

You rouse him with a blade to his throat. Under threat of death you force him to rise and lead you to the only place on the island safe from the mares. He takes you to the courtyard, where you both stand on a platform above the creatures. He calls the mares to you with the flute but, when they arrive, you are at a loss for how to calm them enough to saddle. Diomedes begs you for his life. He promises to lull the mares and help you saddle them if you spare him. [[Spare him|HM death two]] [[Throw him to his monsters|HM success]]

You slit his throat and let him bleed to death. When all is quiet again you steal his flute and go to: [[the courtyard|HM failure one]] [[the sea|HM failure two]]

Using Diomedes' flute you are able to lure the mares to the courtyard where you stand on a platform above them. But without Diomedes skill with the instrument you are unable to lull them to sleep. The smell of their master's blood sends them into a frenzy. There is no way to saddle them and if you have any hope of escaping you are forced to kill them from your secure spot on the platform. King Aegeas wanted them alive and he will not accept their death as payment if you return, and with the mares dead the flute is worthless. <<if $Heracles is 3>>You have failed in your adventures and will not receive a pardon from the King. Too ashamed to live as a fugitive and criminal, you return to Athens to receieve your punishment. Before your death you pray that Megara has found peace.<<else>>You seek the King's next treasure: <<endif>><<if $HH>>[[The Hydra|Hydra]] <<endif>><<if $HA>>[[The Golden Apples of the Hesperides|Apples]]<<endif>>

You get to the shore line and call the mares to you with the flute. You hope to strand them in the waters and saddle them as they struggle not to drown. If you can harness and then rescue just one, King Aegaes will reward you. The mares come to the shore but, without Diomedes' mastery of the flute, you cannot compel them to enter the water. You get too close to one in your attempts and while you leap to safety the flute is tossed from your hand and lost to the waves. <<if $Heracles is 3>>You have failed in your adventures and will not receive a pardon from the King. Too ashamed to live as a fugitive and criminal, you return to Athens to receieve your punishment. Before your death you pray that Megara has found peace.<<else>>You seek the King's next treasure: <<endif>><<if $HH>>[[The Hydra|Hydra]] <<endif>><<if $HA>>[[The Golden Apples of the Hesperides|Apples]]<<endif>>

You shove him over the edge of the platform and onto the ground. The mares converge on him and he is devoured. The feast seems to passify the herd. Satisfied with their meal, they are calm enough to saddle. You use the flute to guide them onto the hull of a ship and safely confined. On your three day sail back to Athens you pray each night to Megara and you keep the flute close to your breast. There is nothing in the world more important to you right now than accomplishing your mission. However, just as you arrive to the border of Athens, Hades appears to you. He has been moved by your prayers and wants to offer you the chance to return Megara to life. He tells you that if you can pass his guard dog, Cerberus, without being killed, you can have the priestess' soul to return to the land of the living. <<set $Heracles_win to 2>> [[Continue to Athens|Final Athens]] [[Accept Hades' offer|Cerberus]]

You make this deal with him. You place your sword to your side and pass him the flute. With one short melody he has enchanted the mares to kill you. They leap with full force and, in your surprise, you flinch away from them and lose your footing. You topple from the platform and to the ground. You hear Diomedes' light tune all the while as you are being eaten. <<set $death_mares to 1>> [[redo last decision|Promise]]

You find Prometheus among the mountains. He is chained to a rock, where each day an eagle comes to eat his liver, only for it to grow back each night. Prometheus promises to find and deliver 3 golden apples for you, if you slay the eagle and free him from this eternal torment. You concede, and wait in hiding for the eagle to return. When it does, you impale it with your sword as it sits atop Prometheus. Eternally grateful, Prometheus delivers you the apples within hours and you set out for a victorious return to Athens. On your three day sail back to Athens you pray each night to Megara and you keep the apples close to your breast. There is nothing in the world more important to you right now than accomplishing your mission. However, just as you arrive to the border of Athens, Hades appears to you. He has been moved by your prayers and wants to offer you the chance to return Megara to life. He tells you that if you can pass his guard dog, Cerberus, without being killed, you can have the priestess' soul to return to the land of the living. <<set $Heracles_win to 3>> [[Continue to Athens|Final Athens]] [[Accept Hades' offer|Cerberus]]

You find Atlas, shouldering the globe. He vows to find and return to you 3 golden apples if you only hold the world for him while he is gone. He has held it for millennia and wishes only for a short reprieve. You accept, and he sets off on the task. He does not return for hours, then days, then for what feels like an eternity. Your body aches under the pressure of the world and you know you have been betrayed. You are only set free by the grace of your father, Zeus, who recaptures Atlas and sets him back to his punishment. However, you are expelled from these lands for you attempted theft and will never hold the golden apples of the Hesperides. <<if $Heracles is 3>>You have failed in your adventures and will not receive a pardon from the King. Too ashamed to live as a fugitive and criminal, you return to Athens to receieve your punishment. Before your death you pray that Megara has found peace.<<else>>You seek the King's next treasure: <<endif>><<if $HH>>[[The Hydra|Hydra]] <<endif>><<if $HM>>[[The Mares of Diomedes|Mares]]<<endif>>

You leap out of the shadows in front of the great 3-headed dog. He towers over you, as tall as three houses stacked on top of one another. Your outburst catches his attention and he looks at you curiously. You should be frightened but you feel worn down. What have you left to lose? [[Smile|Cerberus success]] [[Growl|Cerberus half success]]

You try to creep along the edge of the river, using the flow of the water as cover for your footsteps. However, the smell of your sweat alerts the giant guard dog and all three of his heads turn to find you. He captures you in his jaws and delivers you to Hades. The God is disappointed in your effort. He expected better from a child of Gods and keeps your soul in his Kingdom as recompense. You reside for eternity in the land of the dead.

Cerberus wags his giant tail. Hades arrives before the dog can pounce on its new play thing. The God laughs. He shakes your hand and offers you Megara's soul and safe passage home. You return to Athens a mighty hero. The King is displeased at his lack of treasures, but you need no pardon and he has nothing left to trade. You live out the rest of your days happily, as a figure of legend.

Cerberus pounces at you and pins you with his giant paw. You close your eyes and prepare for death, but it does not come. Hades has called his dog to heel. While you failed in your mission, he admires your courage. He releases the soul of Megara to the living in exchange for yours. You are doomed to spend all of eternity in Hades, but sleep peacefully knowing that Megara is spared and you are absolved of your crimes.

The Princess is surprised to see you but does not call on her guard. You tell her that you are the King of Athens and you wish only to free your people. She seems sympathetic to your cause. She tells you that she has never agreed with these sacrifices but when she tried to negotiate with her father, he hit her. She makes you swear that once the monster is dead and your people freed, you will take her with you back to Athens. She returns your <<if $Theseus is 1>>bronze club <<endif>><<if $Theseus is 2>>boar's tooth <<endif>>to you and a thick role of string. You creep down to the labyrinth. The night is quiet and you try to listen for sounds of a monster, but there is only the wind snaking through the maze. You tie the string to the outside wall of the labyrinth and venture in. Eventually you make your way to the Minotaur: a man with the head of a bull. You are able to kill it while it sleeps and, with the string as a guide, can easily find your way back to freedom. You bring weapons to your people and liberate them from the guards. They flee to the harbour and claim one of the Cretan boats. You know you have made a promise to Ariadne, but if you should take her you risk greater retribution from her father. [[Rescue Ariadne|Naxos]] [[Leave with your people|Sink]]

You find Daedalus as he returns from visiting his son, Icarus. He tells you that King Minos is keeping him prisoner and threatening Icarus' life in order to get him to work. You tell him that if he helps you kill the monster and free Athens, you will rescue him and his son. He shares with you the secret of the Labyrinth: to find the monster you walk straight down, turn neither left nor right. To get out of the Labyrinth, you must turn right, then right again, and then left. You take the sword he offers you and make your way to the Labyrinth. You do as he instructed, walking deeper and deeper down the path. Your sword swings uncomfortably on your hip, clanging against the thin walls, and wakes the Minotaur at the centre: a man with the head of a bull. You fight him. The struggle lasts for some time, spreading blood, both yours and his, across the walls. Finally, you manage to slice his throat but when you look up you realise you have forgotten which route you came down from. <<set $Labyrinth to 1>> [[Go down the path to the left|Labyrinth death 1]] [[Go down the path in front of you|Labyrinth death 1]] [[Go down the path to the right|Labyrinth choice 1]]

You uphold your promise to Ariadne and bring her aboard with your Athenian people. The seas are quiet and no pirates or warships disturb you. After a full day of sailing you come to rest on the island of Naxos. You are woken before daybreak by a woman who stands above you. She is Athena, Goddess of wisdom and war, and she tells you that you must sail at dawn and leave Ariadne behind as a tribute to Dionysus, as this is his island. If you do not a storm will sink your ship. [[Leave Ariadne behind|Friendly fire]] [[Ignore Athena's warning|Aegean sea]]

You leave Ariadne behind and sail for Athens. However, your betrayal insults the Gods and they send a mighty storm to sink your ship. You never make it home to Athens and all of your crew and treasure are lost to the sea. [[redo last decision|Ariadne]]

You leave with the Athenians while Ariadne sleeps. You are so preoccupied with your shame that you forget to change the sails of the ship. You approach Athens flying Cretan colours and the city believes that you have failed and King Minos has come to pillage them as punishment. Athens fires on you as an enemy war ship and you and your crew drown before you can reach the shore. Word eventually reaches Athens of your victory and you are remembered as a hero to the Athenian people, though you are buried in an unmarked sea grave.

You wake Ariadne immediately and rush your people back onto the ship. You sail toward Athens as quickly as you can, hoping to outrace the wrath of Gods. You change your sails so that when Athens sees you in the distance they will know you have won the day and, should you die before you touch Athenian soil, they will honour your sacrifice. The storm hits just as you spy the city on the horizon. You push against it for as long as you can but eventually the boat goes down. Athens, having seen your sails, sends help out for you and rescues you from the raging sea. All your treasures are lost to the sea, and Ariadne is never pulled from the wreckage. You are welcomed back as Athen's mighty hero King and Megara is pleased to see you. But you will always live with the knowledge that you owe your success to Ariadne, who you could not save in return.

You wander around the maze for hours and begin to feel as though you have taken a wrong turn, but when you try to go back the way you came you only feel more disorientated. You wonder the Labyrinth until you become too weak to walk. You die within its walls, but Athens never again has to send its children as tribute and you are honoured as a hero. <<if $Labyrinth is 1>>[[redo last decision|Daedalus]]<<endif>> <<if $Labyrinth is 2>>[[redo last decision|Labyrinth choice 1]]<<endif>><<if $Labyrinth is 3>>[[redo last decision|Labyrinth choice 2]]<<endif>><<if $Labyrinth is 4>>[[redo last decision|Labyrinth choice 3]]<<endif>>

You take the path to the right. The Labyrinth bends naturally and you follow it, moving upwards on a slight incline. Eventually, the path splits in two. <<set $Labyrinth to 2>> [[go left|Labyrinth death 1]] [[go right|Labyrinth choice 2]]

The path splits again. <<set $Labyrinth to 3>> [[turn left|Labyrinth death 1]] [[turn right|Labyrinth choice 3]]

A passage appears to the left. <<set $Labyrinth to 4>> [[turn left|Daedalus betrayal]] [[continue down current path|Labyrinth death 1]]

You emerge successfully from the Labyrinth but discover that you are surrounded by Cretan soldiers. Daedalus has betrayed you. He sold you out for his son's freedom, and King Minos is there to kill you himself. Before you die he promises you that no one will ever know of your accomplishment today.

You try to share your story with him and ask to pass peacefully but he is unmoved by your cowardice. He wounds and robs you, taking the gold drachma. When you finally arrive to the river Styx, how do you convince Charon to ferry you across? <<set $underworld to 1>> [[Juggle|Charon death]] [[Sing|Orpheus]]

You fight one another: two equal-footed young men. Each time you feel you have caught him he slips away. And each time he seems to have you trapped you battle your way back. He is so impressed with your strength that he stops fighting and offers you his friendship. He tells you his name is Pirithuos, a son of Poseidon. He is powerful and has been on many of his own heroic adventures, he can help you in your quest. <<set $underworld to 2>> [[Accept|Dinner invitation]] [[Decline|Orpheus]]

He is unamused by your display and throws you into the Styx. You drown, doomed to live eternally in the land of the dead. [[redo last decision|Lose drachma]]

<<if $underworld is 1>>The ferryman is moved by your melody and sends you across the river to Hades.<<endif>><<if $underworld is 2>>You thank him for his offer but tell him that some things must be done alone. You part respectfully and hope to see each other again in the future. You travel through the gateway to Hades and pay Charon with your drachma and he ferries you across the Styx.<<endif>> When you arrive the God of the Underworld is waiting to meet you. He offers you a chance to free the soul of your mother, Eurydice. He tells you that all you need to do is walk out of Hades. Your mother will walk two paces behind you, your challenge is to trust that she is there. She is disembodied, will make no sound with her steps, will not speak or breathe. If you turn to look at her before you are both out of the underworld, she will be forever lost. You accept, and to keep yourself from glancing back you: [[Count your steps|Orpheus success]] [[Blindfold yourself|Orpheus fail]]

You recount your steps back the way you came. You pass Charon by the river and do not peak at your reflection for fear that you will see your mother in it. You count your way back up the path and into the open air. You count two more steps to ensure she is out behind you before you turn to see her. She smiles and you hug her, the gateway to Hades closes behind you and the day is warm. The legend of your success outlives you, and your mother lives the rest of her gifted days with pride in her son.

You stumble out toward the way you came. The floor is cold and slimy on your hands and the air is thick with the stench of the river Styx. You know you have made your way to freedom when the sun hits your face and you smell fresh air. You rip away the blindfold and turn to see your mother. She is there, watching you with joy and pride. But, two paces behind you, she has not yet stepped out of Hades. She is ripped away in a moment and the gateway closes. She is once again doomed to eternity among the land of the dead, and you return to Athens a failure.

You and Pirithuos travel through the gateway to the underworld and pay a drachma each to Charon, who ferries you across the Styx. When you arrive on the other side Hades is waiting for you and invites you both into his home. His wife, Persephone, greets you on the other side. Hades asks you to sit at his table, where a feast has been laid out. [[Sit with him|Persephone fail]] [[Deny his hospitality|Persephone freedom]]

You and your companion both sit at the table. The moment you're in the chair an overwhelming sense of dread fills you. When you try to stand you realise you cannot. Hades has eyes only for Pilithuos. He accuses him of coveting his wife, of conspiring to kidnap her. Pilithuos doesn't deny it: he planned to use you and your quest to scam his way into Hades' house and steal the Goddess Persephone as his own. Because of his greed and arrogance, you are damned along with him. For eternity you are both condemned to live among the dead.

You hesitate, a sense of discomfort holding you still. Pilithuos sits, and immediately tries to stand but is unable. Hades accuses him of coveting his wife, of conspiring to kidnap her. Pilithuos doesn't deny it: he planned to use you and your quest to scam his way into Hades' house and steal the Goddess Persephone as his own. Because of his greed and arrogance, he is damned to deocrate Hades' house for all eternity, living among the dead. You are free to go, but are never welcome back. All heroic fantasies of rescuing your mother are forgotten.

<<if $Polyphemus is 2>>You give him your name and he throws you to the cage where he's keeping your fellow travellers.<<else>>You struggle in his grip. "Nobody," you say. He throws you to the cage where he's keeping your fellow travellers.<<endif>> That night he has all of you prepare dinner for him. He forces you to prepare a cooking pot in which he stews five of you for dinner. He asks you to bring him a drink to wash down the bones of your cabin mates. When you get to the kitchen you spy a vial of rat poison beside the wine. <<if $Polyphemus is 1>>[[Bring wine to Polyphemus|Polyphemus success]] [[Bring poison to Polyphemus|Polyphemus failure]]<<else>>[[Bring wine to Polyphemus|Polyphemus failure]] [[Bring poison to Polyphemus|Polyphemus death]]<<endif>>

You bring Polyphemus his wine and as he brings it to his mouth you pull a piece of kindling from beneath the boiling pot and shove it into the Cyclops' face. His wine bursts to flame and catches on his beard and brow. He flinches back and you use this moment to stab the wood into his eye. He cries out. The other Cyclops call for him asking what has happened. "Nobody has blinded me!" Polyphemus cries. "Nobody has blinded me!" Thinking him mad, the other Cyclops do not come to his aid and you and your companions are able to flee from the Cyclops' cave and sail for freedom on your boat. As you pull away from the shore, Aeolus, master of the winds, visits you. As reward for your cunning and bravery he gifts you a bag which contains all the winds but the west. He tells you that if you use it wisely it should ensure you a safe arrival home. <<set $Ithaca to 1>> [[Use the winds now|Ithaca]] [[Keep them for later use|Polyphemus failure][$Polyphemus = 3]]

<<if $Polyphemus is 1>>You bring him a glass of rat poison. He picks it up and brings it to his lips but before he takes a sip he smells the deception. He lashes out at you, but your companions come to your aid. As a group you fight him off with the logs you pull from beneath the cooking pot. You wave fire in his face and at the touch of flame he cries out. The other Cyclops call after him asking what's wrong. "Nobody is attacking me!" he cries. "Nobody is attacking me!" Thinking him mad, the other Cyclops do not come to his aid. You and most of the other travellers are able to escape, but you are pursued by Polyphemus. When you board your boat he grips it by the healm and flings you across the sea.<<endif>><<if $Polyphemus is 2>>You bring Polyphemus his wine and as he brings it to his mouth you pull a piece of kindling from beneath the boiling pot and shove it into the Cyclops' face. His wine bursts to flame and catches on his beard and brow. He flinches back and you use this moment to stab the wood into his eye. He cries out. The other Cyclops call for him asking what has happened. He tells them that you've blinded him and you hear their colossal steps approaching you. A group of you flee while Polyphemus is blinded and make your way back to your boat. You manage to board and pull out to sea before the Cyclops have figured out where you went, but when Polyphemus spies your ship sailing away in the distance he pounds his giant fists into the tide and creates a wave which sends your ship across the sea.<<endif>><<if $Polyphemus is 3>>You keep the winds locked in the bag for a time when they're needed. You sail toward Ithaca for three more days. On the fourth day you see your home appaear on the horizon and a sense of relief fills you. Then a violent wind strikes the ship. It seems to come from one direction then suddenly another, then all at once. One of the other passengers has found and released the winds of Aeolus, and they are beyond their control. Your ship is flung wildly in every direction until there is no orienting yourself and no map which could guide you.<<endif>> You sail into the darkest spot of the horizon and find yourselves at the harbour at the edge of the world. There is no light here, no birdsong, not even a ripple in the ocean. A feeling of hopelessness overwhelmes you, your body becomes heavy. You stare far into the distance in every direction in search of land or light. Nothing appears to you until you spy a face watching you from deep below the water's surface. You look closer and realise it is your mother. She reaches up from the sea to stroke your cheek and you're surprised that her touch is warm. She tells you she has died since you've been away, but that doesn't mean she cannot help you. If you take her hand she may guide you back to Ithaca and salvation. But your eyes burn with exhaustion and your chest with grief, and part of you longs to lay down here and give up on Ithaca, now that your mother isn't there. <<set $Ithaca to 2>><<set $siren to 1>> [[Take her hand|Siren]] [[Forsake her|Ithaca][$Siren = 1]]

You bring him a glass of rat poison. He picks it up and brings it to his lips but before he takes a sip he smells the deception. He lashes out at you, but your companions come to your aid. As a group you fight him off with the logs you pull from beneath the cooking pot. You wave fire in his face and at the touch of flame he cries out. The other Cyclops call after him asking what's wrong. He tells them that you are attacking him and they come to his defense. You try to flee but Polyphemus pursues you and all of you are killed. [[redo last decision|Poison or wine]]

<<if $Ithaca is 1>>You open the bag carefully and are shocked by the strength of the winds. They almost overwhelm you but you manage to regain control. You focus the winds behind you and within hours you're sailing into the harbour of Ithaca.<<endif>><<if $Ithaca is 2>>You step away from the spirit of your mother, which enrages her. You realise as her face contorts and she bares fangs that she was never your mother at all, but a monstrous siren. You warn the others so that they may not be seduced by the sea creatures and you sail with all the speed you can muster away from the sirens, into the darkness. You sail right into the rings of the whirlpool Charybdis, but the momentum of your sails breaks the water and the current flings you back across the sea. When you finally slow down you can again see Ithaca on the horizon.<<endif>> When you arrive on the shore the first person to greet you is your childhood friend, Penelope. She tells you that things have changed in Ithaca since you've been gone. Your mother <<if $Siren is 1>>really<<endif>> has died and your younger brother wants sole ownership over the family property and is willing to kill you to ensure it. Penelope tells you that he knows you're arriving today and you need to run. You take refuge in the women's house, disguised as a maid. Friends of your brother come in searching for you but do not recognise you in a wig and dress. Just as they are about to leave, the Ithaca war horns sound. [[Leap into action|Ithaca Docks]] [[Keep quiet|Ithaca death]]

You take your mother's hand and realise too late that she isn't your mother at all, but a monstrous siren. She pulls you into the water and drags you deeper and deeper until you lose consciousness and drown. [[redo last decision|Polyphemus failure]]

You keep quiet to avoid drawing attention to yourself, but your calm gives you away. As the other citizens panic at the sound of the alarm, your stillness betrays you and your brother's men spot you right away. They drag you out to the street while everyone is preoccupied with the alarms and your brother kills you before you can plead your case. [[redo last decision|Ithaca]]

You race toward the alarms, and a large crowd moves with you. Citizens crowd the streets for answers and you lose your brother's men in the chaos. When you arrive to the docks they tell the people that Greece has gone to war with Troy. One of King Priam's sons has stolen Helen of Sparta from Menelaus and the cities of Greece sail to avenge the slight. This is your opportunity to flee your brother, and you feel as though, without your mother, there is nothing keeping you in Ithaca. You decide to board a ship bound for war. [[Board the ship with the red sails|Achilles]] [[Board the ship with the blue sails|Perseus]]

You board the larger ship with the red sails. You look over your shoulder but see no sign of your brother. They seat all the young men of Ithaca together and hand you armour, a shield and a sword. Coming from moderate wealth, this is not the first time you've held a weapon but you've never had to use one against another man and your stomach churns with the thought of it. You hear your name among the crowd and fear your brother has found you, but when you look up you find the eyes of your old friend, Patroclus. He smiles and you feel instantly calmed. Your first love, he had always dreamed of glory and greater things than a farmer's city could offer him and you had feared he wouldn't be there for you when you came home. It appears that he waited for you, and glory has come to find him anyway. After the terror of the sea and the betrayal of your only family, you fall into Patroclus' arms all too willingly. At the end of the journey you step onto the sands of Troy as a pair, ready to fight and die for Greece, and for each other. The war is long. Years pass and you begin to forget you ever slept on anything other than a Trojan beach. While you are tentative with your blade in the early months, you come to realise you have a natural talent with battle. As the months fold over into years you gain a reputation among the Greeks and collect glory and acclaim. You and several other Greek battalions take a small city on the outskirts of Troy and sack their homes. You find two women cowering in the temple of Apollo. [[Take them as war spoils|Plague][$Briseus = 1]] [[Leave them be|Plague]]

You board the smaller ship with the blue sails. You look over your shoulder but see no sign of your brother. They seat all the young men of Ithaca together and hand you armour, a shield and a sword. Coming from moderate wealth, this is not the first time you've held a weapon but you've never had to use one against another man and your stomach churns with the thought of it. On your journey to Troy the ship is caught in a storm and you get lost in the sea. You drop anchor on a bleak, cavernous island for supplies. Some of the passengers refuse to leave, claiming the island is cursed. You know you may be stranded here a long time and you will need food and water, so you'd rather face your own superstitions than starvation. You jump from the boat to the sand. [[Walk along the water's edge|Reflection]] [[Walk into the dark caves|Medusa]]

<<if $Briseus>>You take the older woman with the dark, curly hair, and Agamemnon, King of the Greeks, takes the younger.<<else>>You slip soundlessly from the temple, but the mighty Ajax, a rival of yours, spots you and goes to investigate. The girls are found. Agamemnon, King of the Greeks, takes the younger and has the older killed.<<endif>> The next morning you wake to discover a plague has devastated the Greek camp. Three dozen men have already died in their sleep and many more spew blood into the ocean, making the shoreline red. Patroclus wants to help tend to them but you keep him away, for fear of losing him. Calchus, a wise man, comes to you with answers. He says that the girl Agamemnon took from the temple of Apollo was a priestess and that they are being punished for their King's disgrace of her. To expel the plague, Agamemnon must return his war spoil, but Calchus is too afraid to speak this openly without protection. You agree to protect him if he speaks the truth. In front of over a hundred Greeks Calchus places the blame on the King.<<if $Briseus>> Insulted by this humiliation, Agamemnon agrees to return the girl, only if you trade him yours: the older woman, Briseus. This is a direct attack on your honour and dignity. You will lose respect among the men. And you will lose Briseus, who you have found to be intelligent and witty, though she justly resents the Greeks. With a glance to the young priestess, you fear what fate awaits Briseus should you agree. [[Accept the trade|Abandoning the fight][$War = 1]] [[Deny him the trade|Abandoning the fight][$War = 2]]<<else>> Agamemnon is humiliated. He refuses. You protest but he does not listen. He tells you that you obey him, or you are not a Greek. [[Refuse to fight for him|Abandoning the fight][$War = 3]] [[Hold your tongue|Trojan conquest]]<<endif>>

<<if $War is 1>>You allow him to take Briseus and the young priestess is returned to her people. The plague is lifted by the next sunrise. Agamamenon marches the Greeks to battle that afternoon but you are stewing in his insult and dishonour. You refuse to join him on the planes of Troy and many follow you. It has been a long war and they are tired.<<endif>><<if $War is 2>>You refuse to give Briseus away, so he has her brought to him and killed. You are powerless to stop him. He sends the girl away and the plague is lifted by the next sunrise. Agamemnon marches the Greeks to battle that afternoon but you are stewing in his insult and dishonour. You refuse to join him on the planes of Troy and many follow you. It has been a long war and they are tired.<<endif>><<if $War is 3>>You return to your tent and begin to pack for the long sail home. Many Greeks follow your lead. It has been a long war and they are tired. Agamemnon sends his men into battle the next day, despite their weak numbers.<<endif>> The plague has wounded the strength of the Greeks, as has your absence. Agamemnon is too arrogant to concede and many soliders are slain by Trojan blades. Agamemnon sends an envoy to convince you to rejoin the fight. They offer you spoils, riches, military command. But you send them away. Patroclus begs you to join the fight, knowing the other deserters will follow. But Patroclus himself is hiding a wet cough and is trying to cover how tired he truly is. Many of your men are weak. If they fight, they will likely die. And for what? Much of the Greek forces became disillusioned in Agamemnon's war years ago. Nevertheless, it breaks your heart to hear Patroclus grieve over Greek lives. [[Accept his plea and fight|Amazons]] [[Throw your shield to the sea|Patroclus]]

You submit to your King and return to your tent. You are enraged but there is nothing more to do. The plague continues to ravage the camp until a week later, the Trojans come in the night and kill the weakened Greeks. The war is over. A stanger slits your throat in your sleep. [[redo last decision|Plague]]

You give in to Patroclus' wishes and return to battle. The men who were willing to follow you home are willing to follow you to war. They have lost respect for their King, but not for you. The battle is tough. The Trojans saw the weakness in the Greek line and hit to kill. You see Hector, eldest son of King Priam of Troy, appraoch Patroclus, who is preocuppied with his own battle. Hector swings his sword and brings it down in a curve toward his throat, but you interfere at the last second. Hector is too strong a fighter for you to take in combat and he escapes into the fray. Both you and Patroclus survive the fight and the Greeks take the day. As thanks for your return - and under pressure from the rest of camp - Agamemnon <<if $War is 1>>returns Briseus to you unharmed.<<endif>><<if $War is 2>>offers you a public apology.<<endif>><<if $War is 3>>returns the young preistess home, and the plague is lifted within a day.<<endif>> In response to Greece's strength, the Amazons come to Troy's aid. You ride into battle again the next day to find Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons. You are struck by her noblity and power. No one and nothing moves the way she does, and she takes battle with dignity and honour. [[Fight her|Marriage]] [[Surrender|Death, Greek victory]]

You hurl your shield to the sea and turn your back on Agamemnon for good. You begin to load your belongings onto a ship to sail wherever the wind takes you - anywhere but here. Patroclus has disappeared, unhappy with your decision. You're sure you can convince him in the night. You will sail with him by your side in the morning. You retire to your tent and try to ignore the sounds of battle. The sun is low on the horizon when the Greek soldiers return. Impossibly, they claim to have won the day. You don't believe it until you look around and realise your men have left the beach and unpacked their armour from the ship. Your close friend Antilochus approaches you and removes his helmet. He tells you that a man in your armour had lead them into battle. They believed it was you. He tells you that the warrior faught valiently - it seems important to him that you know this. But the man did not have his shield with him. Hector, eldest son of King Priam of Troy, slaughtered him near the walls of the city. That is when they discovered he was not you, but Patroclus. You cry so loudly the sirens at the edge of the world hear you. Your rage is so great the Greeks flinch away and Zeus watches, so moved by your grief that he commissions Hephaestus, God of metalworking, to craft you a new shield. As he places it in your grip you know leaving is no longer an option. You will have your vengeance. [[Sneak into Troy to kill Hector|Greek violent victory]] [[Unleash your wrath on all of Troy|River God]]

You strike the Queen while she is overwhelmed by Ajax. She falls from her horse, dead before she hits the ground. Something changes in you when you watch her die. There is no cause, no oath worth this kind of sacrifice, this kind of killing. You know, from somewhere deep inside, you are done with this war. King Priam comes to find you in the night. He tells you that the God Hermes aided his safe travel through the Greek camp to find you. He offers you the chance to marry his daughter, Polyxena. He has heard of your skill and courage in battle and knows the Greeks will follow you. It sits heavy on his heart, all of his people who have died for this war he never asked for. If you do this, you will become a Prince of Troy and the war will finally be over. No one else needs to die. [[Accept his proposal|Paris the bitch]] [[Decline his proposal|Peaceful victory]]

You are cut down on the field by the Amazons. There are no captives in this war. The Amazons are formidable and continue their onslaught of the Greek line after you have died, but your men are reinvigorated with the loss of you and fight back with force. The Amazons are defeated and without their aid Troy is vulnerable. The Trojans are defeated and the Greeks sail home, though they are forced to leave you where you were buried: the sands of Troy.

You agree to the marriage and Priam returns with you to Troy. You hear that when the news reaches the Greeks there is chaos, disputes, but eventually they agree to call a truce. You are married in a Trojan garden among rosebushes and the sound of birds. Polyxena is beautiful and quick-witted and you find relief at the end of a long and arduous war. You do not see the arrow that kills you, nor its archer. Paris, younger son of King Priam and abductor of Helen, hides in the garden and shots you dead. He fears that, should your marriage continue, he will have to return his beloved Helen. At this cowardly betrayal the Greeks are reinvigorated and the war lasts another decade. Many hundreds of men die on the fields and sands of Troy.

You thank the King for his generosity but cannot betray your men in such a way. He returns to Troy out of hope and options, fearing the death of his children and the destruction of his city. Hector, soon to be a father, urges Priam to find an end to the war, and so he surrenders on the condition that his family and peoples be spared. He is executed and Helen is returned to her Spartan husband, Menelaus, but the war has come to a close. You sail away with Patroclus at your side. Not the man you once were, you have no longing for Ithaca and you drift wherever the wind sends you.

You stalk through the Greek camp under the darkness of night and make your way to the walls of Troy. You attempt to sneak past their defences but they catch you. The guards kill you and display your head at the top of the walls. The Greeks feign surrender after the death of their great hero. They construct a giant wooden horse as a tribute and leave it on the shores of Troy. When the Trojans take the horse from the apparently deserted beach into their home, Greeks crawl out and sack the city. They say that Hector and his brothers escaped, but Greece emerges the victor nevertheless and the fires of Troy light the sky red for a month. [[redo last decision|Patroclus]]

You wait until morning and rain destruction onto the battlefield. You seek out Hector but he evades you. You slaughter any Trojan who stands in your way. You kill so many that their bodies clog the river. The river God Scamander rises from the water and blocks your path. Hector flees to the other side. [[Fight Scamander|Hector]] [[Go the other direction|Achilles' heel]]

You win against Scamander, a God. You slay all obstacles in your path. The Gods fear your rage is strong enough to cheat fate itself. Finally, you come face-to-face with Hector. He knows quickly into the battle that the fight is lost for him. In the end he doesn't beg for his life, only that you grant him respectful burial after he's dead. You are possessed with your grief and refuse him. You drag his body behind your chariot around the walls of Troy for four days and nights. On the fifth night Patroclus comes to you in your sleep. He begs you for a proper burial. Enough vengeance, he tells you. It's time to let him go. When you wake King Priam looms over you. He tells you that the God Hermes assisted his safe travel through the Greek camp to you that night so he could look you in the eye. He pleads for the return of his son's body. This war was not his choosing, he wants only to bury and grieve his eldest child in a moment of peace. [[Allow him to leave with the body|Sacking of Troy]] [[Kill him|Greek retreat]]

You turn and run the other direction. You reach the walls of Troy and attempt to scale them. You are making ground, success is within your grasp, when a piercing pain shoots through your lower leg. Paris, younger brother of Hector, has shot an arrow through your heel and sent you falling from the top of the wall. The fall kills you but you have already sealed the fate of the Trojans. Your carnage is so great that Troy is forced to surrender. Paris and Hector are executed by Agamemnon, but the city of Troy is not set ablaze and many of the royal family are able to flee before Greek conquest. You're remembered by some as a hero, and others only as destruction.

Finally, you send Prince Hector home. The war ceases for ten days as Priam gives his son burial rights. The Greeks take this time to repsect their own. You farewell Patroclus on the third day. You watch the funeral pyre long into the morning, until the last ember fades. The fight has left you. When the funeral proceedings are done you board a ship and sail back to Greece. Many Greeks follow you. Word spreads around the camp that Greece is abandoning the war. Whispers of this make their way through Troy, to the royal court. When the ten days have ended the Trojans approach the beach to find the Greek ships have all sailed and the camp is deserted. Nothing remains but a giant wooden horse, constructed as an offering to Athena for safe travels home. The Trojans rejoice and steal the horse from the shore. In the night, Greeks pour from the statue and light the city on fire. All of the royal family are killed, including the new born child of Hector. The city is sacked. You hear this news from Olympia and, while you never stepped foot on the inner city of Troy, you know you had a hand in its destruction.

You kill the King where he stands. The following day a storm breaks out above the Greek camp, and lightning strikes, setting a great, unstoppable fire. The Gods have set destruction upon your camp for your cruel act. The Greeks are deciminated and the Trojans take quick action. Knowing the war is lost, the Greeks are forced to retreat. After over a decade of war, you return to Greece with nothing but grief and battle scars.

You pace down the shoreline in search of something to eat. You notice movement in the water at the corner of your eye, a dark shadow. [[Grab it|Statues]] [[Step away|Stone]]

You walk slowly over mossy rocks, into total blackness. There is movement in the dark but you can't see. You hear a hissing, like a snake. You turn to try and spot where it's coming from but you can't see beyond your own nose. You feel breath on your face and you flinch back, tripping on a rock. You fall to the floor, where someone has dropped an old flame and it flickers with half-light. It rests against the foot of a statue. You glance up and recognise the statue as the captain of the ship you had just sailed in on. This is when you realise: the sound of snakes is Medusa, the gorgon that turns men to stone with one glance. [[Grab the flame|Medusa success]] [[Close your eyes|Medusa death cave]]

You slap the water in an attempt to grab what you think might be a fish, but it must have been a reflection. You've made a mess of the water and there's no way to tell what the relfection was. You stand and look around but there is no one behind you. You see your friends beyond the treeline. You hear a noise from the cave to your right, but it is so pitch black you can't figure out what it is. [[Go and see your friends|Stone friends]] [[Investigate the cave|Medusa]]

You back away from the water and collide with something behind you. You turn on instinct and are met with two reptilian eyes. The last thing you see is a woman with snakes for hair and a wicked grin on her face. [[redo last decision|Reflection]]

You walk up to your friends but something feels wrong to you as you do. There is no conversation or movement. Soon, you realise they have been turned to stone. Your blood runs cold, you turn to run back to the ship but you spin right into someone else. You hear snakes hiss and the last thing you see is two reptilian eyes and a woman's smile. [[redo last decision|Statues]]

You grasp desperately for the torch and in your panic you throw ash into your own eyes, blinding yourself. You swing the flame around wildly. A woman cries out and snakes hiss. As your eyesight returns you see blood pool on the floor and flee the tunnels as quickly as you can. You fall out of the mouth of the cave and spin around, expecting to find a monster in pursuit. She never arrives. As you make your way back up the beach you stare intently at the sand, careful not to raise your gaze at any noise. You notice the edge of a piece of paper poking up from the sand. You pull on it to reveal an old map. With some inspection you realise it's leading you to the legendary Golden Fleece. It shows you that the treasure is located on one of three nearby islands.<<set $death_dol to 0>><<set $death_sym to 0>><<set $death_col to 0>> You return to the ship with the map and sail to the first island: <<set $JD to 1>><<set $JS to 1>><<set $JC to 1>><<set $Jason to 0>> [[Doliones]] [[Symplegades]] [[Colchis]]

You clench your eyes shut but when the gorgon releases a deafening scream you open your eyes on instinct, facing the cold stare of a snake. You become another statue among Medusa's collection. [[redo last decision|Medusa]]

You land on the island of Doliones in the town of King Cyzicus. Your map tells you that there is treasure somewhere on the other side of Bear Mountain. King Cyzicus welcomes you, treats you with kindness and hospitality. You tell him of your troubles at sea and ask him about the land beyond Bear Mountain. He tells you how to navigate the overgrowth and shares with you a story he was told about giants who apparently roam the woods. He says this is probably only a folktale. The next day you sail to the other side of the island and try to make sense of the gaps in your map.<<if $death_dol is 0>><<set $Jason to $Jason + 1>><<endif>><<set $JD to 0>> [[Search the woods for clues|JD failure]] [[Guard your ship|Giants attack]]

Your map tells you that there may be treasure on the other side of the Symplegades (Clashing Rocks). They are a rock formation that slam together repeatedly, crushing any ships that try to pass through them.<<if $death_sym is 0>><<set $Jason to $Jason + 1>><<endif>><<set $JS to 0>> You drop anchor on a nearby island to think through a plan. You watch the Symplegades for hours and there is a moment where the gap appears large enough to squeeze your ship through, but you can't imagine rowing fast enough to make it through. If you watch them for long enough you swear the other end looks larger. You wonder if you could attempt to break through from the other side. A man appraoches you on the beach. He tells you his name is Phineas and, for a price, he will share with you the secret of cheating the Symplegades. [[Pay the traveller|Row]] [[Try the other side of the rocks|JS fail]]

You arrive to Colchis and are welcomed by King Aeetes. He spots your map and laughs in your face. He knows where this treasure is but it's guarded by a dragon. If you can defeat it and reach the treasure, it is yours. You will be free to take it from Colchis.<<if $death_col is 0>><<set $Jason to $Jason + 1>><<endif>><<set $JC to 0>> You intend to battle the dragon at sunrise tomorrow. You wake before dawn and pray for favour from: [[Aphrodite, Goddess of love|JC success]] [[Ares, God of War|Dragon]]

You hike through the woods in search of answers. Eventually, you find ruins with carvings that match the odd markings on the map. However, the ornaments had been dismantled and destroyed by something and cannot help you. You feel that any valuable information here is lost. <<if $Jason is 3>>You trek back to Cuzicus for the night and when you wake in the morning you throw your map to the sea. It has nothing left to offer you. You have failed in your quest and don't find treasure. With the guidance of the people you have come across in your quest you finally return to your original journey towards the Trojan War. Your ship has been abused and misused and does not survive the trip. You fall asleep beneath deck among your cabin mates and the stern collapses in the night, killing you.<<else>>You trek back to Cyzicus for the night and in the morning you set off for another island: <<endif>><<if $JS>>[[Symplegades]] <<endif>><<if $JC>>[[Colchis]]<<endif>>

You and your men stand watch by your ship in case giants or bandits arrive to destroy it. Half way through the day a gang of giants breaks from the treeline and storms your camp. As you battle them you notice carvings on their rags that match the odd markings on the map. As you flee their attack you manage to steal some of this cloth. As you sail away you match the etchings to the lines of your map and deduce that there is treasure on the other side of the island, near the cliff's edge. Your ship has taken damage and lulls to the left. It may be taking in water. Your greed urges you to sail the boat around to the treasure immediately, but the currents are strong and you risk sinking in a damaged ship. [[Risk the journey|JD success]] [[Return to Cyzicus|JD death]]

You endure the treacherous journey around the island and thank your Gods that the ship doesn't sink. When you arrive on the opposite shore you move quickly to avoid another attack. You find your destination quickly - the map is remarkably precise, once all the pieces come together. There, before you, hidden beneath a casket of vines, is a treasure chest. [[Open it|Random result]]

You sail back towards Cyzicus' hospitality, but your horn is damaged and your sails blackened with dirt. You can't signal your arrival and Cyzicus' men fire on you as an enemy warship. You and your men drown, taking the map with you. [[redo last decision|Giants attack]]

<<set $player_fate to either("death", "fleece", "curse")>><<if $player_fate is "death">>You open the chest and white hot light consumes you. You have set upon an adventure that was not meant for you, and the Godly treasure has proven too much for your mortal body, killing you.<<elseif $player_fate is "fleece">>You open the chest and find a fabric so golden it burns your eyes. You pull it out onto your knees and marvel at the intricacies of its design, the richness of its fabric. A legendary symbol of Kingliness and esteem. You feel it imbue power in you. You return to Ithaca with the Golden Fleece and become a hero of legend, beyond the schemes of your brother, and a King of Kings.<<elseif $player_fate is "curse">>You open the chest and thick, black smoke pours over the edges like lava. It flows endlessly, with no identifiable source. You choke on the ashy taste and the rancid stench of death. You drop the chest and try to run back to your ship but the darkness follows you, grips you by the shin and crawls up your body. You die before you can reach your crew. You have unleashed a curse upon the world that sets man against man, nation against nation. The Earth itself will go to war.<<endif>>

You pay the man two gold pieces and a shield from the war supply. He tells you that you must release a dove on approach to the Symplegades. If it makes it through unscathed then you must row immediately with all your might and you will make it through alive. You sail to the mouth of the rock valley and release the bird. It darts through in swift time and emerges from the other side alive, but missing two of its tail feathers. [[Row|JS Success]] [[Try the other side of the rocks|JS death]]

You row around the Symplegades toward the opposite mouth of the valley. Before you can reach it you come across pirates. They stalk the rocks to trap adventurers. Luckily, you come up to their back rather than their other side where you would be pressed against the rocks. You sail away at full speed and manage to escape with minimal damage, but you must forsake the possible treasure of the Symplegades. <<if $Jason is 3>>You have failed in your quest and don't find treasure. With the guidance of the people you have come across in your quest you finally return to your original journey towards the Trojan War. Your ship has been abused and misused and does not survive the trip. You fall asleep beneath deck among your cabin mates and the stern collapses in the night, killing you. <<endif>><<if $JD>>[[Doliones]] <<endif>><<if $JC>>[[Colchis]]<<endif>>

Your men row with all their stregnth and break through the end of the valley just in time. The stern of your ship is cracked and pierced at the tip but you live to see the inside of the Symplegades. You hop from the edge of your ship and there, sitting on the shore before you as though it were waiting for you, is a treasure chest. [[Open it|Random result]]

You turn to seek better options on the other side, but before you can reach the open sea you find that pirates have blocked your path. They stalk the rocks to trap adventurers. You are caught between them and the Symplegades. You've missed your opportunity to flee through the rocks and you stand no chance against the pirates. They board your ship, rob you of your supplies and your map, and kill or recruit your crew. [[redo last decision|Row]]

You pray to Aphrodite, and she answers you. She enchants Aeetes' daughter, Medea, to fall in love with you. She seeks you out before your battle and offers you a potion, brewed from herbs. They say the dragon never sleeps, but they're wrong. Spray this potion close to his face and he will fall immediately to sleep. You take what she offers and throw the liquid over the dragon's nose, and he drops his head to doze. This allows you to pull the treasure chest out from beneath his clawed feet. [[Open it|Random result]]

You pray to the war God for strength and hope he has heard you. You approach the dragon's den with your shield and sword, the symbol of Ithaca on your chest. You're shaking as you enter the dark. You fight valiantly but the beast overpowers you. You sense death racing ever closer. You are spared by Aeetes' son, Apsyrtus, who takes pity on you and throws a rock at the dragon to steal his attention and give you the chance to flee. You sprint toward the exit and taste freedom, but when you glance back you see that the dragon has turned against Apsyrtus. If you don't take action, he will die in your place. [[Rescue Apsyrtus|JC fail]] [[Leave Apsyrtus|JC death]]

You pull Apsyrtus from beneath the dragon's grasp and you both escape together. You race to your ship and flee while the dragon emerges from his den and wreaks havoc on Aeetes' kingdom. In the chaos, Apsyrtus is shoved onto your ship along with your men. Aeetes pursues you in vengeace for the destruction you have unravelled on his land, and to reclaim his child. To escape his pursuit, your men kill Apsyrtus and drop pieces of his body into the sea. Aeetes pauses to collect them and you are able to outrace him. <<if $Jason is 3>>You have failed in your quest and don't find treasure. With the guidance of the people you have come across in your quest you finally return to your original journey towards the Trojan War. Your ship has been abused and misused and does not survive the trip. You fall asleep beneath deck among your cabin mates and the stern collapses in the night, killing you.<<else>>You are forced to seek your treasure elsewhere. <<endif>><<if $JD>>[[Doliones]] <<endif>><<if $JS>>[[Symplegades]]<<endif>>

You flee from the cave, leaving Apsyrtus to his fate. Fearing the King's retribution, you run directly to your ship and set your crew to row. Apsyrtus lives and is able to return to his father to tell him of your betrayal. Aeetes sets his ships upon you. They are larger and swifter and capture you easily. Your ship is sunk. You, your crew and your map are lost to the sea. [[redo last decision|Dragon]]