Are You Not Entertained? was a virtual representation of one of Bayek's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan in 2016 through the Portable Animus HR-8.
Description[]
Bayek is on the trail of an escaped Gladiator and the prize sword he stole. But as he investigates something about the story seems more than a little 'fishy'.
Dialogue[]
Bayek approached an inscription on the wall near the stairs leading up to the Amphitheater of Cyrene.
- Inscription:
Reward! The gladiator champion Polymestor has escaped. Talk to the Lanista at the Gladiator School.
Reading the inscription, Bayek made his way to the Gladiator School south of Cyrene. Upon entering, Bayek spoke to a well-dressed man in the middle of the training ground.
- Bayek: I saw the graffiti, looks like you have a problem.
- Lanista: You could say that. My champion the Thracian Bear escaped. He is a trained killer, made as a hyena on heat. There's a bounty on him, good money if you survive.
- Bayek: Why do they call him the bear?
- Lanista: Not so fast, Egyptian. I will only hire you if you show me you are capable of ripping the bear apart. Let us see how you fare against some of my best fighters. Live, and we will talk.
The Lanista made his way to another training ground, speaking to Bayek who followed behind him.
- Lanista: Polymestor's a deadly son of a bitch, fought in Arenas all across the Roman Republic. He won me a fortune and in return I treated him like a king. The best food, the best whores.
- Bayek: Perhaps he valued freedom more.
- Lanista: I earned my freedom through sweat and blood in the arena, not fleeing like a coward. Look. I don't care if that pox-ridden cunnus lives or dies, but he stole my sword. Caesar gave me that in my final fight and I want it back.
- Bayek: Julius Caesar?
- Lanista: You know another Caesar? Alright, Lads, come show this Egyptian some Roman courtesies!
Lanista stood watch at a platform nearby, while three gladiators confronted and fought against Bayek.
- Egyptian Soldier 1: Fight me!
- Greek Soldier: Hey, malakia!
Bayek defeated the fighters and returned to speak to the Lanista.
- Lanista: (Laugh) Now that was a show! You are a warrior.
- Bayek: Have I proven myself?
- Lanista: Yeah, alright do not get cocky. Rumor has reached me a farm east of Cyrene was attacked. Start there. That Thracian dogshagger won't come quietly. But the reward is for the weapon, you understand?
- Bayek: I will find your champion and your trophy.
- Lanista: Such confidence, I like it! I might even shed a tear if he guts you.
If Bayek talked again to Lanista, he would say.
- Lanista: You! Egyptian. You find my damn sword yet?
Bayek left the Gladiator SChool and made his way to the farm mentioned by the Lanista. Upon arriving, he found the sight of a massacre, with two lions prowling the area.
- Bayek: What happened here? I must find Polymestor.
After clearing the lions, Bayek set about to investigate the gladiator's trail. He first investigate two bodies on the ground.
- Bayek: Stab wounds and from many swords. Unless the lions came armed, they did not kill these people.
Bayek next head towards a stable, where he found two bodies on a small wall.
- Bayek: Speared, then tortured. For what? Information?
Bayek next entered a sheltered building, finding a body with arrows inbued in.
- Bayek: They shot him in the back. Was he trying to escape or hide?
Bayek ended his investigation, concluding that the massacre was likely committed by a group rather than one man.
- Bayek: Swords, spears, arrows. This was not one man, it was a massacre.
Bayek approached a corner of the building, discovering a loose wooden door covering on the ground. He destroyed the wood covering, finding an entrance to a hidden cellar.
- Bayek: There is something beneath this. A hidden cellar?
Bayek entered the cellar and read a note on a table.
- My Friends and Saviors:
I can no longer stay here in good conscience. I fear helping me will bring you great misfortune. The Lanista will not let me go, and I could not live with myself if any more lives were lost because of me. I wanbt nothing more than to start a new life, maybe earn an honest living, fishing by day and with a good woman on my knee when I come home. Your grateful friend Polymestor. - Bayek: Polymestor did not kill these people, they helped him. Maybe he reached the fishing village?
Bayek left the farm and made his way to a fishing village east of Apollonia. Arriving at the village, he caught sight of a tall man who most likely fit the description and build of a gladiator, and approached him.
- Bayek: I am looking for a gladiator, the Thracian Bear.
- Polymestor: Another of the Lanista's cronies. How much did he pay you to slit my throat?
- Bayek: He only wants his sword.
- Polymestor: Yes, covered in my guts. How did you find me, the farmers?
- Bayek: I am sorry, Polymestor your friends are dead.
- Polymestor: This is the Lanista's doing. I gave him my life and now I will take his. I threw the sword in the sea. Take it, it has brought me nothing but bad luck.
- Polymestor: I threw the sword away. It can rust with the sea god for all I care.
With Senu's help, Bayek located the sword in the ocean near a large pile or rocks. He dived down and recovered the weapon.
- Bayek: The Lanista's sword, I should talk to Polymestor.
Bayek resurfaced and as he returned, he found the Lanista and his soldiers surrounding Polymestor.
- Lanista: Ah here's the Egyptian clown. I knew he would lead me straight to you.
- Polymestor: Let us end this. I will run no more, Lanista.
- Lanista: Shut up you metrokoites.
- Polymestor: For Thrace and true freedom!
The Lanista and his men engaged Polymestor, with Bayek stepping in to defend the gladiator. After some fighting, Bayek and Polymestor defeated and killed the attackers. Bayek then spoke to the gladiator once again.
- Polymestor: That was a battle to make Charon weep! Thank you...
- Bayek: Bayek.
- Polymestor: Bayek. That bastard had no code, I earned my life back a thousand-fold. But I made too much coin for him. In the arena and the rich Roman beds. Keep Caesar's sword, it belongs to one who stands for freedom and honor.
- Bayek: Thanks, I will stain it with the proper blood, the deserving blood. What will you do?
- Polymestor: Fish, mend my nets and find a good, plump woman to settle down with. I will make the most of this new life.
Outcome[]
Bayek finds Polymestor, recovers the sword, and kills the Roman Lanista.
Behind the scenes[]
The name of the memory is in reference to the line from the movie Gladiator said by Maximus Decimus Meridius after swiftly and methodically defeating his opponents in an arena, disappointing the gathered audience that had hoped for a bloody drawn-out match.
Players can begin the quest by either reading the inscription in front of the Amphitheater of Cyrene or speaking to the Roman Lanista at the gladiator school directly.