Freedom Isn't Free was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan in 2018 through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description[]
Kassandra followed Agapios' advice and met with him at the Slave Market to follow on the leads he had on The Dagger.
Dialogue[]
Kassandra entered the Slave Market and overheard traffickers promoting their human stock.
- Civilian 1: These slaves are local—straight from Eretria! They're experienced workers. formerly part of the rebuild happening right now. They could be yours! Don't let their skills go to waste! We start the bidding at 500 drachmae per slave!
- Civilian 2: 500 drachmae!
- Civilian 3: 510!
- Civilian 4: 515!
- Civilian 1: Please, please, these aren't legless goats—these are strong, educated, and quite willing workers.
- Civilian 5: 520.
- Civilian 1: Sold!
- Civilian 6: Do these look like Pephkan slaves to you?! 250 drachmae, minimum.
- Civilian 7: But can they read? Write?
- Civilian 6: Well, uh, one can!
- Civilian 7: Really?
- Civilian 6: ...Yes!
- Civilian 7: 300 drachmae for the lot
- Civilian 6: Sold!
- Civilian 8: You're busy people, doing your best to keep up in today's relentless world. With a slave to call your own, you'll have the advantage you need to get ahead!
- Civilian 9: Not only is life easier and safer with a slave, it's more rewarding! You're not just purchasing highly skilled workers, you're purchasing family!
- Civilian 10: Surely they're worth 1,500 drachmae!
- Civilian 11: ...1,200?
- Civilian 10: Sir, this is a set—you get husband and wife together!
- Civilian 11: 1,250.
- Civilian 10: Deal!
At the back of the market, she saw Agapios and his master poring over documents on a table set up under a pavilion.
- Agapios: No, no, no, this can't—how is this possible?!
- Magistrate: Agapios, what's wrong? What have you found?
- Agapios: Master, it's a name. Written in the records over and over again. The name of the man leading The Dagger. The Kingfisher.
- Kassandra: Once you know the Kingfisher's real name, bring him to a court of law. he and The Dagger have wounded Euboea—Euboea should have a chance to decide his fate.
- Kassandra: You know your brother better than these records. If you believe this Kingfisher isn't him, then you're right.
- Agapios: Thank you, yes. The boy I knew—there's no way he could be involved in this.
(If "How do you know your brother died?" is chosen)
- Kassandra: When your brother died, did you... did you see his body?
- Agapios: No, no body at all. No sign, no word, nothing. After mater died, pater was... not as fit to feed us as he once was, so my brother made sure we never went hungry. He would fish, every day. Until he didn't return.
("Tell me your brother's name.")
- Kassandra: Your brother can't have been born the "Kingfisher."
- Agapios: Of course he wasn't! Neritos. His name was Neritos. Older than me—More trouble than me, too. Fighting, stealing—But he always looked out for me.
The Magistrate talks to Agapios
- Magistrate: Nothing is more important to Euboea's survival than stopping The Dagger. I'm sorry, old friend—the Kingfisher must be dealt with, whether he's your brother or not.
- Agapios: I—yes, master. I understand.
The magistrate left.
- Agapios: Please misthios, help me uncover the Kingfisher's true identity. We can clear my brother's name and stop The Dagger. Euboea would be in your debt—more in your debt. The Magistrate's treasury runs deep... Your reward would not be small.
(Accept – "I'll help you".)
- Kassandra: Whatever it takes, I'm in. Family can be... complicated. We'll clear your brother's name and save all Euboea while we're at it.
- Agapios: I know a farmer who's had dealings with The Dagger's inner circle. If anyone's seen the Kingfisher's true face, it's him.
- Kassandra: I should pay him a visit. Any other leads?
- Agapios: There's a shipwreck along Euboea's southern coast, and the theater in Chalkis City has been spreading The Dagger's lies.
(If "How will a shipwreck help us?" is chosen.)
- Kassandra: We're in a war, ships are sunk daily. Why does this ship matter?
- Agapios: Because this ship appears to belong to The Dagger. A slave I trust waits by a temple above the ruins in Eretria. Speak with her to learn more.
(If the farmer had already been encountered separately from Agapios' quest, the dialogue option changes.)
- Kassandra: You said you know a farmer who's had dealings with The Dagger. Maybe I could beat some information out of him...
- Agapios: Ha! No, no, he wasn't friends with them—he was targeted by them! He's rich—or he was. Anytime someone in The Dagger needed to line their tunic with drachmae, they'd visit him.
- Kassandra: Then he may know the Kingfisher's true identity.
- Agapios: Which would clear my brother's name.
(If "What can you tell me about the theater?" is chosen.)
- Kassandra: You mentioned... an evil theater?
- Agapios: The theater in Chalkis City is a more potent weapon than you realize, misthios. The Dagger use propaganda to poison the minds of Euboeans. See what you can learn there.
Agapios informs Kassandra of possible leads
(If "How do you know all this?" is chosen.)
- Kassandra: You seem well connected. How is that?
- Agapios: For a slave, you mean? We're not without eyes and ears, misthios. We see much, and we share it, slave to slave. Leads, warnings, anything that might help us survive all the way from today... to tomorrow.
(Leave – "I've heard enough.")
- Kassandra: I have enough to go on. And the Kingfisher, if I discover he is your brother, if he is the man behind The Dagger...
- Agapios: He won't be. Return to me when you've learned all you can.
Before leaving, Kassandra spoke to Agapios once more.
- Agapios: Have you found what we need to prove my brother's innocence and stop The Dagger?
- Kassandra: Not yet.
- Agapios: The Dagger works in the shadows—we mustn't make a move until we've learned everything we can. Is there anything else I can tell you?
- Kassandra: I've heard enough. I'll return once I've uncovered all I can.
Kassandra departed and sought out Agapios' contacts, eventually uncovering a clue about The Dagger from each of them.
- Kassandra: That's the last of Agapios' leads. Better tell him what I've learned. He isn't going to want to hear this.
Outcome[]
Kassandra sought out Agapios' contacts and after gaining a number of clues from each of them, learned The Dagger was indeed Agapios' brother Neritos, he worshipped the hero Achilles, and he ran his operations from the island of Skyros.
Behind the scenes[]
Although Kassandra, and the players by extension, can hear the slave drivers promoting human cargo as prospective clients engage in bidding wars, the market tends to remain empty in open-world exploration. This results in situations where either ambient dialogue triggers despite there being no characters present, or where stages have slaves on them and their drivers beside it, but the slavers hawk wares to nobody.