The Priests of Asklepios was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description[]
Following Hippokrates' advice, Kassandra travelled to the Sanctuary of Asklepios to seek the priests who would know more her mother who passed by a long time ago.
Dialogue[]
Kassandra left Hippokrates to tend to his patients, making her way to the Sanctuary of Asklepios in the Valley of Dreams. She passed by a bathhouse, speaking to a priest.
- Priest: If you're here for your purification bath, you'll have to come back another time.
- Kassandra: I'm here for information.
- Priest: In that case you can go straight to Hades.
- Kassandra: I need to know about a Spartan woman who came through here many years ago.
- Priest: Did that eagle of yours shit in your ears? I'm under strict orders not to talk to any mercenaries. Especially not about Spartan women or injured babies.
- Kassandra: My eagle will tear out your tongue, priest!
- Priest: Forgive me! Not the tongue! Not like Mydon! Chrysis threatened anyone who speaks to the Eagle Bearer.
- Kassandra: Did she? Tell me about the woman and her baby, and I won't drown you in your bathhouse. How's that for a threat?
- Priest: Please no! There's already a corpse in there!
- Kassandra: What are you talking about?
Kassandra with Pylenor
(If players choose "What about the bath house?")
- Kassandra: What does taking a bath have to do with healing the sick?
- Priest: Asklepios only visits the dreams of the pure. When the sick arrive, they offer sacrifice, cleanse their bodies in the bathhouse. Only then do we let them rest in the abaton, where Asklepios appears and heals them.
(If players choose "What about the snakes?")
- Kassandra: How did all these snakes get loose? And why are there so many at the sanctuary?
- Priest: Blame Doreios. He's supposed to keep them in the tholos. Patients with afflictions of the mind are healed by the snakes. Their tongues are like kisses from the gods.
(If players choose "How should I get rid of them?")
- Kassandra: I'll clear out these snakes in no time. Ikaros could use a good feast.
- Priest: Try not to kill them. Doreios will be furious if his sacred snakes get chopped to bits.
- Kassandra: Then how am I supposed to deal with them?
- Priest: Snakes are drawn to the bath's heat. Flood them with cold water, and they'll slither back to their hole. There's an underground pipe that may help you.
(If players choose "I'll deal with the snakes.")
- Kassandra: I'll take care of your snake problem. Then you'll tell me what I need to know.
Kassandra encountering Timoxenos
Despite dealing with his snake problem, Kassandra discovered the priest knew nothing but a name: Mydon. She found another priest to talk with, Timoxenos, working nearby.
- Timoxenos: Greeting young one. Come to offer Asklepios a sacrifice?
- Kassandra: No, but I'm searching for a Spartan mother who may have.
- Timoxenos: The great goddess Hera guides many mothers to this sacred place. Surely I'm too feeble to remember them all.
- Kassandra: What are these stone slabs for?
- Timoxenos: These are records. We document all who pass through—their illnesses, treatments—so that the glory of Asklepios can be celebrated.
- Kassandra: Then I don't need your memory. I just need to find the right stone.
- Timoxenos: Um, yes, of course. That's very wise, indeed. If only I had the time to help you...
- Kassandra: Listen, I'm not here to hurt you. I'm just looking for my mater.
- Timoxenos: It's Chrysis. She's got every priest in the sanctuary under her thumb, and she'll squash anyone who feeds information to the Eagle Bearer.
- Kassandra: Then don't tell me anything—just bring me to the stone that can.
Kassandra with the priest and a sick child
Kassandra followed Timoxenos. After gaining what information she could, she sought out another priest to ask information from. This man stood over the body of a young girl.
- Priest: May Asklepios spare her from suffering.
- Kassandra: Will she live?
- Priest: Not unless the gods hear our prayers. Many sick Athenians have arrived in Argolis recently, and very few have left. This poor girl has the same sickness.
- Kassandra: Is there anything I can do to help?
- Priest: I was warned of the Eagle Bearer. "Wants nothing but drachmae for blood," I was told.
- Kassandra: We're wasting time, priest. We can discuss what I want when this sick girl's needs are taken care of.
(If players choose "Where exactly is the sacred bull?")
- Kassandra: The outskirts are vast. Could you be more specific about the location of the bull?
- Priest: Last I heard it was grazing on Mount Koryphum, near the Asine Ruins.
(If players choose "Why do you need it alive?")
- Kassandra: If you're just going to slit its throat, why do you need the bull alive?
- Priest: But we're not just going to slit its throat. First, we pour water on its head. If it nods, we may proceed. Gods, mortals, and animals—all must be willing participants in a sacrifice, or it is impure. To save this many people, we will need the beast's blood, bones, and fat.
(If players choose "What can you tell me about Chrysis?")
- Kassandra: Tell me about Chrysis. She has everyone terrified.
- Priest: We taught her everything we knew about healing, about the gods. Then she found new teachers. People in masks. They changed her. Turned her heart black. They became her gods.
(If players choose "I'm going now.")
- Kassandra: I'll find this bull for you.
Kassandra left the sanctuary and headed to the place the priest mentioned near the Asine Ruins to search for the bull.
Outcome[]
Kassandra followed Hippokrates' advice and visited the Sanctuary of Asklepios for information. She was able to uncover information of her mother's visit as well as a priest by the name of Mydon, whose tongue was cut out to prevent him from speaking.
Trivia[]
- If this quest is completed before The Doctor Will See You Now, Hippokrates' patient will die because Kassandra took too long.