Island of Misfortune 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 travelled to Keos to look for Xenia, a pirate who may have information on her mother's whereabouts.
Dialogue[]
As the Adrestia approached Keos, Barnabas issued a warning.
- Barnabas: The seas are treacherous around Keos. We should be careful.
- Herodotos: What? Charybdis and Skylla await at the bottom of the sea, I suppose?
- Barnabas: No. Pirates. A lot of them.
- Herodotos: Huh. Only pirates?
The ship docked at Koressia, whereupon Kassandra disembarked.
- Kassandra: Hmm, I don't see any soldiers here. Only pirates. They must be running the whole island.
Kassandra made her way to the Temple of Athena overlooking the settlement, evading pirates where she could. Before she could open the doors to the temple, Xenia tossed a man through them.
- Soldier: Gods have mercy!
- Xenia: You—want—mercy?
Xenia took out a knife and grabbed the man, carving a symbol on his forehead.
- Xenia: Those who trade in slaves anywhere on my island will be marked as slaves themselves...
She tossed the man to the ground.
- Xenia: ...Then hauled to Attika and fed to the system they tried to profit from.
The man scrambled back to his feet. Xenia addressed the other men.
- Xenia: Get this scum out of my sight.
As the men led the slave trader away, Xenia turned her attention to Kassandra.
- Kassandra: I thought all pirates were slavers.
- Xenia: And you are?
- Kassandra: My name is Kassandra.
- Xenia: Well, Kassandra, we're all thought to be murderers too. So, tell me why I shouldn't kill you right here.
- Kassandra: I was told you're a trader of information.
- Xenia: Among other things, yes.
- Kassandra: I'm looking for someone.
- Xenia: Entering my city and killing my followers is a strange way to strike a deal.
- Kassandra: I didn't think they'd let me just walk in, and I don't have time to waste.
- Kassandra: She's my mother. I haven't seen her since I was a child.
- Xenia: So, you're on a quest to find your family.
- Kassandra: Something like that.
- Xenia: Then your path is not an easy one.
Xenia beckoned Kassandra to follow her as she walked to the overlook.
- Kassandra: Aspasia's the one who sent me to find you.
- Xenia: Aspasia? Now why would she do that?
- Kassandra: She said you might have information that could help me in my search.
- Xenia: You can have anything for the right price.
- Kassandra: And what is that price?
- Xenia: Considering you butchered a few of my people, I feel like compensation is in order.
- Xenia: One you can afford, I'm sure.
(If "Why so much?" was chosen.)
- Kassandra: Why do you need so much drachmae?
- Xenia: I have a city to secure and people to protect. I have no interest in going to war—I just want to make sure the war doesn't come to us.
- Kassandra: I don't have that kind of drachmae.
- Xenia: I find that surprising, given your profession.
- Kassandra: What proof do I have that you'll even find her?
- Xenia: I already know Myrrine.
- Kassandra: How do you know that name?
- Xenia: That's not all I know.
- Kassandra: Getting that much drachmae won't be easy.
- Xenia: You have a ship and a crew. That's enough to find work here in Koressia. And there's a stockpile of drachmae held in the fort on the far side of the island.
- Kassandra: You want me to steal from your island?
- Xenia: The other locals aren't too happy about us pirates. Their leader has amassed a fortune. If they have no drachmae, they can't do anything stupid.
Kassandra was skeptical.
- Xenia: Don't worry. As long as you're working for me, you're one of us.
Kassandra took her leave and reflected on the conversation.
- Kassandra: Trust a pirate to only help for a boat-load of drachmae. If I'm going to pay her, I need to find some work on this island.
Walking down into the settlement, she noticed the other pirates were leaving her be.
- Kassandra: It should be much easier to travel the island now that everyone won't try to kill me on sight.
She also spied some of the buildings destroyed in Xenia's coup.
- Kassandra: Xenia and her crew really destroyed the place. If they burn everything, how do they expect to keep the people quiet?
In time, Kassandra gathered enough drachmae and returned to Xenia at the temple.
- Xenia: The mighty not-Spartan returns!
Kassandra looked at Xenia cross-eyed and lightly shook her head before handing over the drachmae.
- Kassandra: Here, take it.
- Xenia: A pleasure doing business.
- Kassandra: The information I need, how long will it take?
- Xenia: I already have it.
- Kassandra: You do?
- Xenia: Your "Myrrine" now sails under the name of Phoenix. She started as a member of my crew, but we parted ways not too long ago.
In a flashback, Xenia walked to Myrrine, who stood on the shore, gazing out over the ocean.
- Myrrine: I'm leaving soon.
- Xenia: Keos is your home.
- Myrrine: But this isn't my true calling—my purpose.
- Xenia: You might never find what you are looking for, Phoenix.
- Myrrine: I can't stop until I do.
- Xenia: You are a great pirate.
- Myrrine: And you are an even greater friend. Don't forget me.
The scene returned to the present. (If "Where is she?" was chosen.)
- Kassandra: Do you know where she is now?
- Xenia: She sailed southeast with her crew in search of a greater calling.
(If "Why did she leave?" was chosen.)
- Kassandra: She was part of your crew?
- Xenia: For a time.
- Kassandra: Why did she leave?
- Xenia: Much too interested in the politics of war—a waste of a good pirate if you ask me. I haven't heard from her since she left.
(If "How did you meet her?" was chosen.)
- Kassandra: Keos is a long way from Sparta. How did your paths cross?
- Xenia: On the sea, long ago. In her, I saw a better life. In me, she found freedom. Together, we owned the waves.
- Kassandra: I can't believe she was a pirate.
- Xenia: She's the kind of woman who, once she sets her mind to something, gets it done.
(Leave – "I have what I need.")
- Kassandra: Thank you. I...
- Xenia: Home isn't a place, it's the people you're with. If you don't find what you're looking for, there's a place for you here.
Kassandra nodded her head in thanks before leaving Xenia and the temple.
- Kassandra: Phoenix. There have to be people who know that name.
Outcome[]
Kassandra learned that her mother sailed southeast of Keos using the moniker "Phoenix."
Behind the scenes[]
Completing this quest, along with "Ashes to Ashes" and "Monger Down", will immediately fulfill the requirements to begin the next chapter of the main quest. As certain quests such as "For the People" will no longer be available at that point, it may behoove the player to fulfill this objective last, as it is relatively convenient to return and pay Xenia for the information whenever the player is ready to advance the story.