Hunting the Bow

Hunting the Bow was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories stored in the Abstergo Cloud and relived by an Assassin hacker in 2023 through the Animus.
==Description==
On Delos, Kassandra eliminated Sparta's enemies and met an old friend.
==Memory Animus Feedback System==
*Eliminate your targets
**Reach the docks
**Locate Phaidos
***Assassinate Phaidos
**Locate Straton
***Assassinate Starton
**Meet with Kastor
*Discover the Vault of Odysseus
**Locate the bow
***Get the bow
**Locate the wreath
***Get the wreath
**Reach the Temple of Apollo
**Open the Vault of Odysseus
*Locate the Bow of Odysseus
**Recover the Bow of Odysseus
*Escape the Vault of Odysseus
**Leave the Vault
**Investigate the energy signature
**Leave the Vault
**Stop the falling ceiling
**Leave the Vault
*Return to Odessa
**Return to Odessa
**Activate the beacon
==Dialogue==
Kassandra approached the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delos through the Terrace of the Lions.
*Kassandra: Delos. The faces change, but the war carries on. Now Sparta has asked me to take two of Athens' finest off the board. Time to find my targets.
She unsheathed the Sword of Damokles from her hip and mused about it.
*Kassandra: Alexios' blade. I hope I am making better use of it than he did.
Kassandra then entered the settlement and passed through its main markets, hearing the citizens talking about the war effort.
*Civilian 1: It's getting harder and harder to get the right goods in. I can barely break even.
*Civilian 2: Athens is on its knees. When Sparta wins the war, everything will go back to normal, you'll see.
*Civilian 1: You think? We used to do well under Athenian rule. But Sparta? We might all end up like those slaves of theirs. What are they called?
*Civilian 2: Helots. But I'm sure it won't come to that.
*Civilian 1: I hope you're right. For all our sakes.
Kassandra approached the Hestiatorion, where she found more civilians discussing the aggressiveness of the Athenians.
*Civilian 3: What happened to those supplies of yours? Weren't they in the warehouse by the dock?
*Civilian 4: A hoplite loaded them onto the boat and thanked me for my "contribution for the war effort". The audacity! And now they won't let me back in!
*Civilian 3: You should complain to the governor.
*Civilian 4: Oh, I intend to!
She then proceeded to quietly enter the Hestiatorion, where she spotted a small vessel guarded by a pair of Athenian hoplites.
*Kassandra: I would have come here on the Adrestia, but my mission needs discretion.
Kassandra stealthly assassinated the soldiers with her Hidden Blade and recovered a pair of throwing knives. She then climbed to the top of a nearby temple and gazed into the eagles that flew above her.
*Kassandra: I miss seeing Ikaros in the skies above.
Kassandra synchronized with the viewpoint on top of the temple and performed a Leap of Faith into a haystack in a courtyard below. She then dealt with the soldier that guarded the entrance to the docks, entering its heavily-guarded premises thereafter.
*Kassandra: Phaidos and Straton should be here, but the area is guarded by Athenian soldiers. I'll need to be careful.
Kassandra started with searching close to the warehouses, reaching a small courtyard with a vantage point over it. After she killed the hoplite on top of it, she eavesdropped on a conversation between a strategos and another hoplite.
*Strategos 1: No, admiral Phaidos does not need another bodyguard, he's quite safe aboard the Bellerophon. What I need is for you to keep watch here, in case anyone tries to help themselves to our supplies. Now go, attend to your duties.
*Kassandra: Interesting...
Spotting Phaidos' ship docked on close to a further pier, Kassandra continued through the camp until reaching a tent which harbored several supplies. On a table nearby, there was a note which she picked up and read.
*Kassandra: "We must be ready to sail with the morning tide. Come find me aboard the Bellerophon when all our supplies are accounted for." It is signed, "Phaidos".
Kassandra then approached the pier close to the Bellerophon and jumped into the water, swimming up to a ship that was connected by a wooden bridge to Phaidos' ship. Pulling an unaware soldier into the water, she boarded the vessel and caught sight of the admiral.
*Kassandra: Phaidos. After he's one of the few admirals Athens has left.
She traversed the bridge and heard the admiral talking with one of his bodyguards.
*Phaidos: The provisions for the voyage?
*Hoplite 1: All aboard, admiral. With a fair wind, the journey to Athens will not be long.
*Phaidos: A fair wind... it seems we have had little but ill winds of late. But you're right. This grain must reach the city, and we must see that it gets there safely.
*Hoplite 1: Poseidon is on our side.
*Phaidos: Let's hope so, because every Spartan ship between here and Attika wants to see us at the bottom of the sea. Now, enough talk. Be about your business.
*Hoplite 1: As you command.
Kassandra swiftly dealt with the bodyguards and assassinated Phaidos.
*Kassandra: One down, one to go.
She retruned to the docks and climbed another small temple, on top of which she eavesdropped on a hoplite talking to another.
*Hoplite 2: I think Straton is going to stay in that courtyard for the rest of the war. He never got his sea legs, and after Aegospotami, I don't think he ever will.
*Kassandra: Could be useful.
Kassandra looked to the courtyard and spotted Straton.
*Kassandra: Straton. The Athenian magistrate for Delos.
Kassandra dealt with the guards in the area and sneaked past the walled courtyard, reaching a large brazier close to sea that served as a beacon to ships. She read a note lying by a basket close to it.
*Kassandra: A note from Phaidos, the Athenian admiral. "At the first sign of enemy vessels, light the brazier. If we plan to show the Laconians that we still rule the seas, we cannot be taken by surprise."
After that, Kassandra returned to the area and climbed it, hearing a conversation between the magistrate and a subordinate.
*Hoplite 3: The ships will be here in the morning. We can move the grain then, and be away.
*Straton: Excellent. Sparta has long held the land, and now they rule the seas as well. Athens suffers already—if this shipment does not get to the city, the people will starve. Phaidos is ready to sail? The convoy will depend on his protection.
*Hoplite 3: The admiral is overseeing preparations for the voyage as we speak. He looks forward to you joining him.
*Straton: Good, good... Wait a moment. "Joining him"?
*Hoplite 3: Yes, eminence. He has reserved a place for you aboard the Bellerophon.
*Straton: He thinks I'm coming on the voyage?
*Hoplite 3: Of course. His vessel is the pride of the Aegean.
*Straton: And we've just lost a hundred and sixty other prides of the Aegean to the Spartans. It's incredibly dangerous out there! Look, just... just tell Phaidos I'm sick. Yes, I think I need to stay here on the island a little longer, until I feel ready to travel. (laugh) Yes. The convoy should go ahead without me. Now go. Convey the message.
*Hoplite 3: As you wish, eminence.
As Straton dismissed the hoplite, Kassandra assassinated the magistrate.
*Kassandra: It's done. Now to report in.
Her task completed, Kassandra left the docks and continued through a path close to the Grand Temple of Apollo, where she saw a note lying under a tent with seized goods.
*Kassandra: An order for the guards to be alert for Spartan agents on the island. I hope Kastor stays out of trouble.
She used a lift nearby to ascend to the temple premises above, where many people stood in worship to the god close to the Colossus of the Naxians.
*Kassandra: Prayers to Apollo. Ever the popular choice.
Kassandra continued her way around the temple, listening in on a conversation between townsfolk.
*Civilian 5: The tides are turning for the Athenians. Once our friends, now our masters, soon they will be gone altogether.
*Civilian 6: I doubt the Laconians will be better bedfellows.
*Civilian 5: Yes, a pity they did not wipe each other out completely, but there may yet be a bright future for Delos in all of this.
*Civilian 6: You are ever the optimist.
Kassandra reached the back end of the temple, spotting an elevated window on the back wall. She climbed to it and noticed that it lead to the temple's treasure room, where various relics were stored. She found a letter on a table.
*Kassandra: A note, maybe from a priest. "The Athenians have taken our treasures to fund their war, but they shall not have everything."
After searching the room for valuables, she faith-leapt into a pile of hay below the window and resumed her way to the other side of the settlement. At the base of the temple, close to the Sanctuary's south exit, she heard two more civilians talking about Delos' situation.
*Civilian 7: I'm telling you, if the Spartans come here, we'll make a fortune.
*Civilian 8: What do you mean?
*Civilian 7: I've already sold "Achilles' sword pommel" to every Athenian soldier stationed here, and I've got three dozen more gathering dust in the warehouse. Some new customers are just what we need.
Kassandra then proceeded to approach the open courtyard close to the Sacred Lake, where two people complained about the Athenians' conduit.
*Civilian 9: I was on my way to the Temple of Artemis this morning, and a hoplite turned me away. He was quite rude.
*Civilian 10: What would soldiers want with a temple? Are they storing something in there?
*Civilian 9: I have no idea, but they are depriving me of my right to worship. I won't stand for it!
*Civilian 10: If I were you, I'd wait until they've gone. I'm sure Artemis won't mind.
Afterwards, she approached the house where her contact waited for her, hearing yet another set of comments by some civilians.
*Civilian 11: The Temple is closed—a soldier told me to "keep out and mind my own business". Can you believe that?
*Civilian 12: I think they're stockpiling provisions for a voyage, but they could have chosen a better place.
The misthios then climbed to the top of the residence she sought and traversed a rope to reach its balcony, entering the building. Inside, she found Kastor looking over a map of the Sanctuary with two owl markers placed over the docks.
*Kastor: Is it done, Kassandra?
*Kassandra: I dealt with your Athenians.
*Kastor: Good.
Kastor knocked the markers out of the table and leaned over the map.
*Kastor: They were organizing a grain shipment to Athens. Their deaths will delay it, and help bring the city to terms.
Behind her, Kassandra heared the sound of a door opening and closing.
*Kassandra: Who's that?
*Kastor: An old friend.
Odessa opened the door and entered the room.
*Odessa: Well. It's really you.
*Kassandra: Odessa? What... what brings you to Delos?
*Odessa: I'm in search of a treasure, left here by Odysseus long ago.
*Kassandra: What treasure is that?
*Odessa: His bow. It's said to be hidden on the island.
Kastor crossed his arms in disbelief.
*Kastor: Hm, a local legend.
Odessa pointed her finger to him.
*Odessa: Some legends are true. The story goes that if the statues in the Temple of Apollo match one another, the path to the Bow of Odysseus will be revealed. All they're missing is a bow, a wreath...
She produced a lyre made of marble and put it over the map.
*Odessa: ...and a lyre.
*Kassandra: So there is some truth to this.
*Kastor: And what of the wreath and the bow?
*Odessa: Held in the island's treasury, right here in the Sanctuary of Apollo.
*Kastor: Then they're under lock and key, and guarded by Athenian soldiers.
*Odessa: But we have the tools for the job...
Odessa threw a lockpicker to Kastor, which he catched with his hands.
*Odessa: ...and a misthios to do it.
*Kassandra: So. You want me to find this bow for you.
Kastor put the lockpicker next to the lyer.
*Odessa: You wouldn't refuse an old friend, not after all we've been through.
*Kassandra: How can I forget? Very well, where do I start?
*Odessa: You'll need the lyre, but you'll also need the bow and the wreath. With them, you can go to the Temple of Apollo and find my ancestor's bow.
*Kassandra: Every guard on Delos is looking for me.
*Kastor: Then you'll need to wait until nightfall. As for me, I need to get back to Sparta.
Kastor approached Odessa and the two of them clasped each other's forearm.
*Kastor: Good fortune to you both.
*Odessa: I'll remain here, Kassandra. Come find me when you're done.
As Odessa leaned over the table, Kastor left the room and Kassandra followed suit. At night time, Kassandra looked over to the Temple of Apollo from the house's balcony.
*Kassandra: Delos is quite beautiful at night. Now, to the treasury.
Kassandra traversed to the residence's roof, overhearing a conversation below her position.
*Civilian 13: Is it me, or there are more guards on the streets this evening?
*Civilian 14: And at the treasury too. No-one's allowed inside. I think the incident at the harbor today has them on edge.
*Civilian 13: Perhaps they should take the hint and leave Delos?
*Civilian 14: You'd welcome Sparta over Athens?
*Civilian 13: I'd welcome a change.
Kassandra traversed a rope attached to the roof and entered the guarded perimeters of the Treasuries. She sneaked her way through the area, finding a note on a bench close to an open temple.
*Kassandra: An inventory of items for one of the treasuries. It includes the bow Odessa told me about. Not the Bow of Odysseus though. It won't be that easy.
Kassandra searched for the treasury mentioned on the note, eavesdropping on two guards talking close to another temple.
*Hoplite 4: Night duty again?
*Hoplite 5: I don't know why we're here. Anything valuable is locked away in those two big treasuries. Who's going to get in?
*Hoplite 4: Well, perhaps you should complain to the strategos?
*Hoplite 5: And find myself in the front line of our next battle with Sparta? I'll take what I've got, but I can still complain about it. Chaire. (Goodbye.)
*Hoplite 4: Chaire (Goodbye), friend.
*Kassandra: Voices near my position.
Kassandra found her way through the small guarden nearby, finding the first of the main treasuries.
*Kassandra: This is the location the guards were talking about. There must be something valuable in here.
She used her lockpicking tools to unlock the temple's door, rummaging the room until she found the golden bow inside a treasure chest.
*Kassandra: This isn't the Bow of Odysseus, but... maybe it'll help me find it. The wreath must be in another building.
Zeroing in on the other big treasury, Kassandra descended onto the courtyard below and read a letter close to the fountain.
*Kassandra: "To Strategos Diocles. There is a killer among us, and they are still on the island. Lock the treasury doors, and post additional guards tonight. If they strike again, we'll be ready."
Going further down, the mercenary found another letter inside one of the lesser treasuries.
*Kassandra: A note from a soldier. "The wreath from the temple is in the small treasury building. If that old priest comes asking for it again, tell him Athens appreciates his contribution to the war effort."
Outside the building, Kassandra heared a conversation between a soldier and a strategos who gathered outside the treasury with the wreath.
*Strategos 2: I know what's in that treasury, so if any of it goes missing—the amphoras, the wreath, the chests of drachmae—I'll know that too. Now, go to your duties.
*Kassandra: That could be helpful to me.
Kassandra reached the treasury and slew the hoplites guarding it.
*Kassandra: Another locked door. I should find a way inside.
Like before, she unlocked the door and entered the treasury, finding the golden wreath among the contents of an amphora.
*Kassandra: This is it. The wreath. A symbol of Apollo. That's everything Odessa said I'd need. I should go to the Temple of Apollo.
Now with the items needed to unlock the Vault of Odysseus, Kassandra rushed to the Temple of Apollo and entered it through its main door.
*Kassandra: The Temple of Apollo.
Kassandra spotted a marble statue of the god, who wielded a bow and wore a wreath, close to the temple's entrance.
*Kassandra: That must be one of the statues Odessa told me about.
Noticing a vacant space at the feet of the statue, Kassandra placed the lyre she got from Odessa there. On the opposite site of the all, she saw another statue.
*Kassandra: There's another one.
The statue had a lyre and a wreath in its constitution, but lacked a bow on its hand, in which Kassandra placed the miniature bow acquired from the treasury. A third statue was placed at the back of the temple, which Kassandra noticed when she approached the altar.
*Kassandra: Another statue.
By putting the wreath on the statue's head, Kassandra triggered a mechanism which prompted a large slab on the ground to slid into the altar and reveal an underground staircase.
*Kassandra: It worked!
Kassandra went down the stairs and entered the vault's antechamber.
*Kassandra: This place is deserted... But it could still be dangerous. I should tread carefully.
She entered a side corridor and a bronze door closed behind her. By continuing through the corridor, Kassandra stepped on a metal plate which triggered a trap on the other end that launched darts at her.
*Kassandra: A trap! Something I can use must be nearby. Odessa, the things I do for you...
Close by, she picked up a crate lid and grabbed it by the handle.
*Kassandra: A shield. That could be useful.
Kassandra used the lid to avoid the traps and safely traverse the corridors. She ended up in a large room whose entrance was sided by sphinx statues.
*Kassandra: Did Odysseus build this place? Or someone else?
Kassandra climbed to the room's ruined upper floor and used the handles on the wall to reach another door, which lead to a corridor interrupted by a pit. Kassandra traversed the gab by climbing to the corridor's walls.
*Kassandra: This bow had better be worth it, Odessa...
Entering another corridor with a smaller and a larger gap, Kassandra traversed them as she had done with the first. At the end of the passage there was a large gate which opened when she approached it. On the other side, she entered a large hall sided with statues and divided into two sections, only traversable by a passage covered in wooden spikes. Just before the statue, the Bow of Odysseus stood on display.
*Kassandra: There it is—Odysseus' bow!
Kassandra grabbed the bow.
*Kassandra: I have the bow, now to get back to Odessa. Somehow.
The moment she took the bow, two of the axes that hanged from the ceiling descended over the passage.
*Kassandra: A row of axes. Like in the legend.
Kassandra shot an arrow through the adorned seals in the axes, which resulted in two rows of spikes retreating into the ground. After that, another set of axes lowered onto the passage. The misthios shot another arrow through the remaining four axes, clearing her way to the other side of the chasm.
*Kassandra: There. Perhaps Odysseus and I have something in common.
Kassandra traversed the passage and entered another room, passing by a lyre adorned with a strange piece of technology. Activating a lever to unlock the bronze door, Kassandra went through a small corridor before reaching a room similar to the one where the bow was stored, this time with a ceiling full of spikes and a clear passageway. As she stepped on two platforms, one at its entrance and another at the middle of the passage, the gates on both of its ends closed and the ceiling started to slowly descend.
*Kassandra: By the Gods! Now I've seen everything...
Kassandra rapidly hit the four wooden mechanisms which lowered the ceiling with Odysseus' Bow, making it so it ascended to its default position and the gates were opened again.
*Kassandra: Phew! Alright. Time to get out of here.
The next room lead back to the vault's antechamber.
*Kassandra: I have the bow. Now to get back to Odessa.
A handful of hoplites noticed her position and rushed to assult her.
*Hoplite 6: There's the intruder!
*Hoplite 7: Down there! You see her?
*Hoplite 8: Hey, stop! Halt!
*Kassandra: I've attracted some attention. Time to test my new bow.
Kassandra dispatched the soldiers with her bow and left the vault back into the temple. From there, she opened the door and was ambushed outside by another group of hoplites, which she swiftly dealt with. She made her escape from the temple grounds, passing by two guards who talked below her position.
*Hoplite 9: I saw you cheating at dice the other day.
*Hoplite 10: I did no such thing.
*Hoplite 9: Come off it, I saw you.
*Hoplite 10: Don't tell anyone. I'll be ruined if the rest find out.
*Hoplite 9: Teach me how you do it, then.
*Hoplite 10: If that's what it takes.
Kassandra avoided the guards patrolling the streets and headed back to Kastor's villa, where she found Odessa asleep over the map table.
*Kassandra: I come bearing gifts.
*Odessa: Kassandra?
Odessa got up and approached her.
*Odessa: You're back? Is that...? You found the Bow. Let me see it.Come on, hand it over.
Kassandra reached for the bow on her back and gave it to her friend. She held it in awe.
*Odessa: It's real. The things this weapon has seen...
She wielded the bow with great effort, ultimately being uncapable of drawing its string.
*Odessa: But it was never made for ordinary people. It belonged to Odysseus. A hero.
Odessa gazed upon the weapon with frustration.
*Odessa: He's not here any more. But you are.
She held out the bow to Kassandra for her to take possession of it.
*Kassandra: I am honored, Odessa. I'll make good use of it. You have my word.
*Odessa: So what now? It seems the war may soon be over.
*Kassandra: There's always work for a misthios somewhere. Perhaps a return to Athens, once it's under Spartan rule.
*Odessa: Then I suppose... this is goodbye?
*Kassandra: Only until the next time. Chaire (Farewell), Odessa.
==Outcome==
Kassandra halted the Athenian convoy by helping Kastor in eliminating two Athenian commanders. Afterwards, at Odessa's request, she found the Bow of Odysseus beneath the Temple of Apollo, which Odessa later relinquished to her.
==Behind the scenes==
The axes in the bow's chamber inside the Vault of Odysseus are adorned with the Assassin insignia, which in itself is an anachronism, since the memory takes place way before the creation of the Hidden Ones.
==References==
*Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR
Category:Memories of Kassandra
fr:À la recherche de l'arc