Dark Horse

Dark Horse 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== 
After letting some time pass after their poor first meeting, Kassandra decided to pay Persephone a visit. 
==Dialogue== 
Kassandra entered Persephone's throne room atop Pherephassa Point, the highest peak of the Asphodel Fields. Persephone called to her from her throne.
*Persephone: I didn't get a good look at you back there. Now I see why my guards had trouble with you.
*Kassandra: Well. They weren't exactly easy.
*Persephone: I'm sure they aren't what you mortals are used to. You must be someone special. 
<tabber>
|-|I'm flattered.=
*Kassandra: Thank you, uh, your majesty.
*Persephone: A simple "Persephone" will do just fine in my realm. Formalities are for the boring – isn't that what they say? 
|-|This isn't what I expected.=
*Kassandra: You're acting pretty nice for someone who just tried to kill me.
*Persephone: Consider that a misunderstanding. It isn't every day I see a new face in my realm, much less one as lively as yours.
</tabber>
*Kassandra: So Elysium belongs to you.
*Persephone: After the rude introduction I gave you, I can't blame you for not knowing – let me apologize. Ros can attest. Usually he's the one that does the biting.
Ros barks in agreement.
*Persephone: He would want you to forgive me, too. Tell me your name. Let's begin again – on the right foot, this time. 
<tabber>
|-|I forgive you.=
*Kassandra: No hard feelings. My name's Kassandra.
|-|I'll think about it.=
*Kassandra: I tend to take attacks against me personally.
*Persephone: I understand your mistrust, but I want to be friends. This place is paradise, after all. There's no room for enemies.
*Kassandra: This place is beautiful. I'm Kassandra.
</tabber>
*Persephone: Then I give you my official welcome, Kassandra. Let me tell you what's customary around here. This place is mine. I know every flower, every face. I alone let them in. But there's something here I don't want.
Kassandra stepped forward to inspect the giant pit in the center of the throne room.
*Kassandra: You mean me.
*Persephone: No. There's a beast loose in Elysium, and it belongs to Hades. If it gets to him that his "wife" stole one of his immortal mounts, it'll be a disaster. But I didn't steal it. I won't go near the things—they brought me down here in the first place. No, someone wants me to look bad, and I need that horse gone.
("How do you feel about Hades?")
*Kassandra: The Hades? I'll take it you aren't a happy couple.
*Persephone: He's tried, of course, to bond with me. But what can he expect out of a prisoner? Love? That's just stuff of legend.
("Who would frame you?")
*Kassandra: You think someone would do this to you?
*Persephone: It's highly unlikely the thing got in here on its own. I have to remember Elysium is my paradise—not everyone else's.
(Leave – "I'll go find the horse.")
*Kassandra: I'll see if I can find the horse for you. What does it look like?
*Persephone: You'll know it when you see it, trust me. Not only is the beast immortal, but he is terrifying.
*Kassandra: Horses don't scare me. Has anyone seen him lately?
*Persephone: I heard screams coming from the Asphodel Arboretum—perhaps he's scaring civilians. Bring it to my stable boy, the Jockey of Artemision. He'll know how to send it galloping back to the nightmare it came from.
Kassandra nodded and took her leave.
Kassandra traveled to the Asphodel Arboretum. Ikaros located the horse's likely hiding place in the main building.
*Kassandra: That looks like a good place for a horse to take shelter.
As she approached the arboretum, she heard a commotion.
*Mortal Man: Ah! Get away from that beast!
*Kassandra: Wonder what's wrong with them.
Kassandra found an open window on the building's south side and climbed in. She found the horse in the care of a single blind old man.
*Mulios: Don't come any closer! You're all scaring my horse. He's just a gentle creature.
*Kassandra: Have you seen your horse? The others ran away screaming.
*Mulios: Leave it to a blind man to see what's right in front of him. Of course I haven't seen it! I'm sorry. These are hard times.
*Kassandra: I'm afraid I won't make them any easier. I have to take that horse from you.
*Mulios: You can't! First Persephone takes my sight, and then you take Orphie? Our friendship was instant! I heard the neigh of a fierce horse. I approached him, unafraid, and he licked my palm.
("Why were you blinded?")
*Kassandra: Did you say Persephone blinded you?
*Mulios: She had one of her godly soldiers fry me with fire. It was punishment for telling others what I thought of this "paradise," and somehow it got back to her. Said I didn't deserve to see the beauty she'd created.
("I have to get the horse out of Elysium.")
*Kassandra: He's not supposed to be in Elysium.
*Mulios: Are any of us? In a realm that boasts perfection, but shows only deceit? Have pity, let him stay with me. 
<tabber>
|-|You can keep the horse.=
*Kassandra: All right, you can keep him. But it's a risk. You could be caught.
*Mulios: A risk I'm willing to take. Oh, Orphie. When we're safe, we shall ride together in the fields!
Kassandra returned to Persephone.
*Persephone: Good news, I take it? I know Hades will be missing his beast.
Kassandra left.
*Kassandra: Better pay that stable boy a visit to cover my tracks.
Kassandra found the Jockey of Artemision at the Shrine of Stallions.
*Kassandra: You must be the Jockey of Artemision. Nice horses.
*Jockey of Artemision: I keep them clean and pretty—just like Elysium! I tended horses in my old life, too.
*Kassandra: Then you're just the boy I need to talk to. I have a favor to ask.
*Jockey of Artemision: What favor?
*Jockey of Artemision: Why do you want me to lie?
*Kassandra: Because if you don't, I'll make sure all your horses get out of their pens and run away to Tartaros. Understand? Tell them I was here.
*Jockey of Artemision: Fine. Just leave my horses alone!
|-|It has to go back to Hades.=
*Kassandra: Little do you know that this is Hades' horse. It's going back to him.
*Mulios: I don't care, I would risk even Hades' punishment for Orphie. Mark my words, I won't forget this.
Kassandra mounted Orphnaeus.
*Kassandra: Whoa, boy. Don't tell Phobos, but you are one impressive beast.
Kassandra rode the horse out of the arboretum into the open fields.
*Kassandra: I need to take this horse to either Adonis, or to the stable boy. Who to choose...
Kassandra rode the horse to the Jockey of Artemision at the Shrine of Stallions.
*Jockey of Artemision: Woah, what is that? He's not like any of my horses.
*Kassandra: He's a special horse and belongs to Hades. That's who he needs to return to. Persephone told me you could get him there.
*Jockey of Artemision: It's because Persephone knows I can ride any horse anywhere. I'll take it from here!
Kassandra returned to Persephone.
*Persephone: Good news, I take it? I know Hades will be missing his beast.
*Kassandra: I found him and took him to your stable boy like you asked.
Persephone leaned forward to kiss Kassandra on the cheek.
*Persephone: You have no idea the trouble you've saved me. You've earned my favor.
Kassandra left.
|-|I'm bringing it to Adonis's rebellion.=
*Kassandra: The horse is going to Adonis. I think he could use it for his cause.
*Mulios: The rebellion's real? I don't like it, but I guess he would be used for good... Goodbye, my Orphie.
Kassandra mounted Orphnaeus.
*Kassandra: Whoa, boy. Don't tell Phobos, but you are one impressive beast.
Kassandra rode the horse out of the arboretum into the open fields.
*Kassandra: I need to take this horse to either Adonis, or to the stable boy. Who to choose...
Kassandra rode the horse to Adonis' ally in Minos' Faith.
*Kassandra: I thought Adonis could make good use of this horse. Will you make sure it gets to him?
*Mortal Rebel: This horse? So long as it doesn't trample me, I'll take it to him on your behalf.
Kassandra returned to Persephone.
*Persephone: Good news, I take it? I know Hades will be missing his beast.
Kassandra left.
*Kassandra: Better pay that stable boy a visit to cover my tracks.
Kassandra found the Jockey of Artemision at the Shrine of Stallions.
*Kassandra: You must be the Jockey of Artemision. Nice horses.
*Jockey of Artemision: I keep them clean and pretty—just like Elysium! I tended horses in my old life, too.
*Kassandra: Then you're just the boy I need to talk to. I have a favor to ask.
*Jockey of Artemision: What favor?
*Jockey of Artemision: Why do you want me to lie?
*Kassandra: Because if you don't, I'll make sure all your horses get out of their pens and run away to Tartaros. Understand? Tell them I was here.
*Jockey of Artemision: Fine. Just leave my horses alone!
</tabber>
==Outcome==
Depending on choices Kassandra either leaves Orphnaeus with Mulios, recovers the horse and brings it back to the Jockey of Artemision, or gives the horse to Adonis' rebellion.
==Trivia==
*Letting Mulios keep the horse results in a reduction of -50 Persephone's Influence in the Asphodel Fields region. However, bringing the horse to Adonis' man in Minos' Faith results in a -50 Influence reduction in both Asphodel Fields and Minos' Faith, for an overall total of -100 across Elysium. The number is significant, but ultimately unnecessary given the ample opportunities for players to reduce Influence.
==References==
*Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – The Fate of Atlantis: Fields of Elysium 
Category:Memories of Kassandra
Category:Memories relived using the Animus HR-8.5