Stairway to Olympos was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description[]
Kassandra accompanied Empedokles to the Isle of Thisvi to meet his "family".
Dialogue[]
At the Isle of Thisvi, Kassandra entered the vault on the island. She navigated through the ancient ruins, diving down to a pool of water and swimming through a tunnel. She resurfaced and found Empedokles seemingly talking to an individual through a small crack in the wall.
- Empedokles: I hear you my brothers, my sisters!
Someone sounds very stompy today. I'd know that temper anywhere, Ares. Do not fear brother, I shall comfort you soon!
Please... my family, let me come home.
Kassandra approached Empedokles.
- Empedokles: You see! They're here! The—the gods are. Behind. This. Door! Listen.
A roar echoed behind the wall.
- Empedokles: I didn't mean to be away so long. Kythera is—well if you're looking to unleash a new plague somewhere—
- Kassandra: This is not what I expected.
- Empedokles: Camouflage, my unimaginative friend! A mere disguise to ward off those seeking the glory inside!
They both heard the roar again.
- Empedokles: Ah! You hear them too!
- Kassandra: There is something there, and whatever's making that noise must be two or three times the size of a man.
- Empedokles: Quickly, use the disk! Open the door! They're expecting us.
(Accept – Let's meet the gods.)
- Kassandra: Whatever's inside, I'm ready.
- Empedokles: My brothers and sisters!
Empedokles handed over the medallion to Kassandra, who placed it on the gate next to the wall. Activated, the gate opened up, granting access to Empedokles and Kassandra.
- Empedokles: This is it! The realm of eternity, the house of the gods!
They slowly made their way in.
- Empedokles: Creators of the universe! Outstretch your mighty hands, and raise me to the heaven—
Before Empedokles could finish his speech, he was crushed by the hand of a giant creature, revealed to be a Cyclops.
- Kassandra: Maláka...
The Cyclops roared at her, and she engaged, firing arrows into its glowing eye.
- Kassandra: ...Impossible...
- Kassandra: Is it just me, or are these malákes getting bigger?!
- Kassandra: He does not look happy. Let's see if I can cheer him up.
If the Minotaur was defeated first and no other Cyclops was Defeated.
- Kassandra: I remember when the biggest thing I had to kill was a fucking Minotaur...
When the beast charged, a well-timed arrow brought it stumbling to its knees, allowing her to close in and deliver stronger blows. The creature made the whole cave shake violently, bringing down chunks of stalactites from the ceiling. Kassandra made sarcastic remarks as she gradually wore the creature down.
- Kassandra: And I thought Empedokles was the handsomest one in the family.
Once she'd weakened the Cyclops some, it retreated to grab a chunk of stone to swing as a club. It roared as it returned to battle Kassandra and also began blocking its eye as it charged to prevent her from shooting at it. Kassandra continued her assault and timed her dodges to account for the increased range of the makeshift club, and eventually she brought the Cyclops down for good.
- Kassandra: The bigger they are, the more I have to stab them.
She reached her hand into its eye socket to extract the still-glowing eye. It shook violently in her hands, trying to transmute her, as a ghostly Cyclops appeared behind her, reaching its hand towards her.
- Unknown: ...Grant us the sight to watch over our legacy...
Kassandra grit her teeth and continued to struggle against the artifact's attempt at changing her. Thanks to her willpower and the unique blood within her veins, she managed to resist the artifact's power. After a while, the artifact ceased shaking and took its true shape in the form of an apple-like sphere, its glow gradually lessening. Kassandra exhaled and pocketed the artifact before leaving behind the crushed remains of Empedokles and the desiccated human-sized corpse of the artifact's previous owner.
Outcome[]
While Empedokles met his fate at the hands of Brontes the Cyclops, Kassandra slew the beast and claimed the artifact from its corpse.
Trivia[]
- Despite the quest description, Empedokles is not clothed anymore than in Kythera Island.
- The name of the memory is a reference to the song Stairway to Heaven.