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He Waits was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description
Kassandra descended into the depts of Knossos Palace to slay the dreaded Minotaur.
Dialogue
Kassandra made her way down to the entrance of the Labyrinth of Lost Souls and inserted the Phaistos Disk into the stele. The massive trapdoor below parted open, and she and Ardos stood at the edge of the walkway to peer into its depths. Kassandra leapt into the pool of water far below, climbed out, and made her way past the glowing door.
Traversing the Labyrinth
Inside, she took note of the architecture.
- Kassandra: This... can't be Minoan.
- Kassandra: What is this...?
She rounded the corner and saw the massive mythical labyrinth laid out before her.
- Kassandra: Maláka. It's real.
- Kassandra: By the gods...
Kassandra noticed a large string from a familiar myth tied to the stone path.
- Kassandra: The string Theseus used to navigate the labyrinth... Let's see what's at the end.
She followed the string around a corner and noticed a demolished and bloodied corpse slumped against the wall.
- Kassandra: A creature of rage did this.
She continued following the string and found a different corpse, that of a man.
- Kassandra: This must be Nikios.
She inspected his remains and found a ring.
- Kassandra: A ring? Ardos might want this.
The string ended there, so Kassandra was left to navigate the rest of the maze on her own. As she explored, she was occasionally turned around.
- Kassandra: I've been this way before.
Her free running skills allowed her to collect many valuable treasures and traverse paths that had long since fallen into ruin. She followed the roaring sounds to the heart of the labyrinth and jumped across to its central chamber.
Inside, the half-man, half-bull of legend tossed a corpse aside and grabbed its axe before staggering to its feet. It roared and charged at Kassandra, who deftly dodged it. It crashed into the nearby stonework and slammed its fist into the ground in a tantrum. The Minotaur finally found its balance and stood ready to fight Kassandra in earnest. She drew the Spear of Leonidas and readied for a difficult battle.
- Kassandra: Well. The malákas Minotaur.
- Kassandra: Aaaand here we go.
The Minotaur swung its axe wildly and charged at Kassandra regularly. She focused on dodging its powerful blows and inflicting hits when it was vulnerable. After she damaged him sufficiently, he slammed his fist and axe around and stamped his feet, reducing half of the arena to ruin.
- Kassandra: I really need to charge more for slaying mythical creatures...
The Minotaur began using its strikes to scatter debris at Kassandra from range, and the damage to the arena hindered her movement. In spite of this, Kassandra eventually wore it down and delivered the killing blow.
- Kassandra: Can't believe... I killed the Minotaur. Mater would be so proud.
Kassandra claimed the glowing horn from the Minotaur's corpse. As she held it, the horn glowed the same color as her spear and shook violently as it gathered particles. Kassandra struggled to hold it steady. An image of the Minotaur in the same color reached towards the horn.
- Unknown: ...Give us strength, when all of ours is gone...
Kassandra grit her teeth and continued to struggle against the artifact. Thanks to her willpower and the unique blood within her veins, she resisted the artifact's power. It ceased shaking and took its true shape in the form of a silver, apple-like sphere, which glowed with the same light. Kassandra exhaled and pocketed the artifact before beginning the long climb out of the labyrinth.
Ardos
Kassandra returned to the great stone trapdoor to find Ardos waiting for her. Ardos smiled at her, knowing she was successful.
- Kassandra: The Minotaur is dead. Thanks for your help, Ardos.
- Ardos: Where's pater?
- Kassandra: I searched the labyrinth and -
- Kassandra: I'm sorry, Ardos -
- Ardos: Sorry? Why?
(Promised to save Nikios during Seeking Answers)
- Kassandra: Listen -
- Ardos: You said you'd bring him back.
- Ardos: You lied. Go back in there and find him!
- Kassandra: Ardos -
- Ardos: You promised!
(Did not promise)
- Kassandra: Ardos, the Minotaur was no ordinary monster.
- Ardos: And pater isn't just a regular guy. He's a hero!
- Kassandra: He might've been your hero, but -
- Ardos: He must be alive! Find him!
Regardless, Kassandra drove the painful truth home.
- Kassandra: He's dead, Ardos!
- Kassandra: We can't raise the dead.
- Kassandra: But we can move on.
- Kassandra: I didn't find him. There's no way anyone but me could have survived down there.
- Ardos: My pater was fast! And really smart. If anyone could've, it would've been him -
- Ardos: Maybe he got out! That's why you couldn't find him!
- Kassandra: He could still be out there...
- Kassandra: Somewhere.
- Ardos: Yeah. You're right! Nothing can knock down the great Nikios!
- Kassandra: Are you OK, Ardos?
- Kassandra: Ardos, he's not coming back.
- Ardos: You said you looked, right?
Kassandra stood despondently.
- Ardos: And if you couldn't find him, he must've made it out! A crack in the wall...
- Ardos: Or, you know, he climbed out! The way you went in. Y-yeah!
- Kassandra: No.
Ardos broke into tears.
- Kassandra: Your pater loved you. If he got out, he'd have come to see you.
- Kassandra: I found his body in the labyrinth. Your pater is dead.
- Ardos: You're lying.
- Ardos: He wouldn't just leave me alone!
(Promised to save Nikios during Seeking Answers)
- Kassandra: Listen -
- Ardos: You said you'd bring him back.
- Ardos: You lied. Go back in there and find him!
- Kassandra: Ardos -
- Ardos: You promised!
(Did not promise)
- Kassandra: Ardos, the Minotaur was no ordinary monster.
- Ardos: And pater isn't just a regular guy. He's a hero!
- Kassandra: He might've been your hero, but -
- Ardos: He must be alive! Find him!
Regardless, Kassandra drove the painful truth home.
- Kassandra: He's dead, Ardos!
- Kassandra: We can't raise the dead.
- Kassandra: But we can move on.
- Kassandra: I didn't see any sign of him.
- Ardos: What?! You didn't look hard enough.
- Ardos: Maybe he got out! That's why you couldn't find him!
- Kassandra: You might be right. He could be out there somewhere.
Ardos began to cry, but Kassandra told him to never give up.
- Kassandra: Don't ever give up looking for your family, you hear?
- Ardos: But, I -
- Kassandra: I never gave up, Ardos, and I found my mother. Have faith - not just in the gods.
- Kassandra: But in yourself.
- Kassandra: Ardos, he's not coming back.
- Ardos: You said you looked, right?
Kassandra stood despondently.
- Ardos: And if you couldn't find him, he must've made it out! A crack in the wall...
- Ardos: Or, you know, he climbed out! The way you went in. Y-yeah!
- Kassandra: No.
Ardos broke into tears.
- Kassandra: Your pater loved you. If he got out, he'd have come to see you.
In that moment, Ardos' biggest concern was forgetting his father.
- Ardos: I'm afraid I'll forget him.
- Ardos: I don't want to forget him.
Kassandra placed her hands on her hips.
- Kassandra: I'm sorry... there's nothing more I can do for you.
Ardos sobbed.
- Ardos: Still, you tried. Thank you, misthios.
- Kassandra: You said your pater went into the labyrinth to find valuables.
- Kassandra: I found this. Take it.
- Kassandra: It isn't much, but maybe I will have helped him fulfill his promise.
- Ardos: T-thank you, misthios.
Kassandra placed her hands on her hips.
- Kassandra: I'm sorry... there's nothing more I can do for you.
Ardos sobbed.
- Ardos: Still, you tried. Thank you, misthios.
The two left the labyrinth behind and made for the surface.
Endings
Outside Knossos Palace, Kassandra asked Ardos about his plans.
(If Ardos realized Nikios was dead)
- Kassandra: What will you do now?
- Ardos: I don't know, misthios.
- Ardos: Without pater...
- Ardos: I don't know.
(If the Caretaker was told to stay away from Ardos during Full Circle)
- Kassandra: You'll find your own path, Ardos.
- Ardos: I-I guess.
- Kassandra: But for starters, stop going around stealing so you can keep all your fingers.
- Ardos: Ha! You know I can't promise you that, misthios!
Ardos took his leave and sat back down at his camp.
- Ardos: I'll be OK, misthios. I have to be, right?
Without his father or his caretaker, Ardos was left to find his own way in the world.
(If the Caretaker was convinced to make amends with Ardos)
Ardos' old caretaker approached them.
- Kassandra: Maybe you can figure it out together.
- Caretaker: Ardos...
- Kassandra: Remember, you're never alone. There will always be people who care.
- Kassandra: Stay out of trouble, boy.
- Ardos: You know I can't promise you that!
- Caretaker: I'll make sure of it, misthios. Thank you.
The two decided to go home together and put the tragedy of the labyrinth behind them.
- Caretaker: Let's go home, Ardos.
- Ardos: I'd like that.
(If Ardos believed Nikios was still alive)
- Kassandra: What's your plan now?
- Ardos: I'm going to keep looking for pater! Do you think any of the others will know where he went?
- Kassandra: I don't think so.
- Ardos: I... I see.
(No Caretaker)
- Kassandra: Will you be OK?
- Ardos: Yes. Pater's out there like you said, misthios.
- Ardos: And it's up to me to find him.
(Found Nikios and lied)
- Kassandra: Tyche be with you, Ardos.
- Ardos: Thank you, misthios! I'll find him for sure.
(Did not find Nikios)
- Kassandra: I know you will find him, Ardos.
- Ardos: I'll tell pater all about you.
Ardos took his leave and sat back down at his camp.
- Ardos: I'm not sure where to start looking, but I'll figure something out!
Without his caretaker, Ardos was left to search for Nikios (in vain) on his own.
(Caretaker)
Ardos' old caretaker approached them.
- Kassandra: Look who's here.
- Caretaker: Ardos.
- Kassandra: You are never alone, Ardos. There are always people who care.
- Caretaker: Thank you, misthios. He's in good hands now.
- Ardos: The misthios couldn't find pater. He must have found a way out!
- Caretaker: Is that so?
- Kassandra: There was no sign of him in the labyrinth.
- Ardos: Come on! We've got to start looking!
- Ardos: Thanks, misthios. You're the best.
- Kassandra: You'll find your pater. I know it.
The two decided to go home and begin searching for Nikios together.
- Caretaker: Let's head home first. Maybe something there will help us find your pater.
- Ardos: Home?
- Caretaker: Yes, our home. Let's go.
(Caretaker final conversation)
Kassandra overheard the two as they walked for home.
- Ardos: ...I'm sorry I stole the disk -
- Caretaker: I understand -
- Ardos: And your amulet.
- Caretaker: What amulet?
- Ardos: And your ring collection.
- Caretaker: So that's where -
- Ardos: And your memoirs.
- Caretaker: I hadn't finished those!
- Caretaker: By the gods - you can't be stealing things all the time, Ardos!
- Ardos: But I'm good at it! And I only steal from people who deserve it.
- Caretaker: I didn't deserve it.
- Ardos: You didn't talk to me for years.
- Caretaker: Well, I -
- Caretaker: You're right. I wasn't there for you. Perhaps I did deserve it.
- Ardos: I know, right?! Not to mention all the gold -
- Caretaker: WHAT?! Ardos -
- Caretaker: ...You didn't steal anything from the misthios, did you?
- Ardos: Ha! We'll never know.
Trivia
- If the player says they couldn't find Nikios, Ardos' closing line (and the Caretaker's, if present) will refer to continuing the search for Nikios, even Ardos was subsequently told to move on (and thus accepting that he is dead). This indicates that the line for the game to use is flagged by the first dialogue choice rather than the actual outcome. This effect is purely cosmetic, as there is no way to follow up with Ardos afterwards.
- If Ardos is alone and continues the search for Nikios, the hero will say either "I know you'll find him" or "Tyche be with you." The exact controlling variable is simply finding his body; if the hero knows the truth and does not tell Ardos, they bid Tyche, god of luck, to go with him as they know he'll never actually find Nikios. If the hero does not know the truth, they seem to genuinely believe Ardos will find Nikios somewhere out in the world.
- The quest also references finding Myrrine, if the main story has advanced that far beforehand, thus allowing the hero to speak from personal experience relative to this progression.
- If Ardos ends up alone, the Caretaker's NPC actor will still spawn at Knossos Palace and begin walking back to Ardos' House anyway.