Commander Bonnie
Legend called them the warrior poets, we continue what they started.
Homeward bound
Returning to Tanzanite, hauling the load of precious materials the Haruspex elder had requested, Bonnie reflected on her times so far on Next Island. “What a strange and wonderful land” she thought, glancing out over the tropical paradise she had spent the last few months exploring. This last mission had been quite the test, particularly that run in with the Megalodon, but deep down she longed to return home to Ancient Greece. She knew the next part of her quest would involve Molochs, and it would seem her chance to return home, back through the portal the Haruspex had created, would be now.
Lugging the last of the crystals and oils past the palm tree, she handed them over to the elder. ” I hope it is all there” Bonnie joked, as the thousands of crystals tumbled out the bag. Her mission was complete, now it was time to head back to Troy on Ancient Greece, and find these depths where the molochs live.
Arriving in the cave where the portal is, she took one last glance around the Island paradise, took a deep breath, closed her eyes and was instantly transported to a place she was much more familiar with. “Ah that’s more like it!” she declared, opening her eyes and being surrounded by the pillars and art of Ancient Greece. She headed home to Menelausia to drop off the treasures she had collected, and check all was well. The estate was pristine as always, she sighed in relief and took in a deep breath of the fresh sweet smelling are. A mixture of the warm sands, salt from crashing waves, and perfume from the nearby flowers filled the air. “Now this truly is home” she smiled. “But there’s trouble here” Her smile turned to determination. There was a new sense of urgency in her mind. Before she was trying to help save a land for others and reap the rewards, but now it was different, she would not let these Demra fuelled Molochs run riot across these lands if they are allowed to keep this new and powerful armour, whatever it may be.
The Titans
The sun baked down the the market square at Thebes, Bonnie was collecting the last of the materials she would need on her journey down into the Molochs Depths. Unsure as to what she was about to face, she decided it would be best to meet with her crew, the Titans of Space, the band of interplanetary warriors who she had fought alongside many times before, both here and across the universe.
“If we could manage the Gorgons and blooming Zeus himself, I am sure we can manage some cows… ” Bonnie joked. The others were quite sure too, they had all met Molochs previously around the islands, so they had a rough idea what they should expect. “What do you guys know about Demra?” She asked hopefully. “Demra?” Her friend questioned, ” clearly not very much” Bonnie teased. “It’s just, well these Molochs are supposed to be under the influence of this stuff, and we don’t seem to know all that much about it. “You think too much” the Admiral taunted her, ” lets just go and do what we do best, kill them!” “I sure hope this armour will be worth it” Her friend joked. However deep down Bonnie had that pang again, that feeling that things had changed for her, she was not just here to reap the reward for finding the armour, but taking it off those Demra inspired Molochs would mean they wont have the power to take control of her land… her land… she smiled in spite of her self and how intertwined she had become with this place, something she had never imagined would have been possible after so many years as an interplanetary nomad.
The team gathered the remaining items they needed from the market and made their way to Troy. Bonnie felt glad to be working along side her crew again, each of whom had also completed the same quest from the elder in order to gain access to the molochs depths, and excited about what they may find down there.
Into the Depths
Troy, an ancient legendary city, the site of some of the most epic and well know battles of millennia. But here as Bonnie and the crew arrived and looked around, it was a shadow of its former self. Although For what the city lacked in buildings here, it mimic the legend she remembered from ancient earth of the most with the main building upon the tell, but quite possible more to be found in the valleys and gulley’s surrounding. She followed the path down, and sure as fate would have it a vast valley appeared before them. “This will be it then” she shouted to the others who were following behind. Taking stock of their surroundings, there were cages, which seemed perfectly fit for human size, and a long winding path to a vast set of gates.
The approached the gates and beyond they could see a beautifully structured layered garden. Or so it seemed. Crossing over the gate would be the place where they would be checked for worthiness, it had not been the first time each of them had been struck down by such a gate. Taking a deep breath, Bonnie stepped through ( admittingly closing her eyes). Opening them, hesitantly, she peered around and sighed a huge sigh of relief. The rest of the team filtered through without quite the same hesitation.
Each path led past impressive fires and carefully placed water features. It somehow didn’t quite look like the battle ground they had expected. She pondered on this for a moment, then it became clear. This was never supposed to be a battle ground, it was to be a place where Moloch craftsmen were to perfect their work and create something quite special, until of course the decided to keep it for themselves.
There were 3 shimmering huge doors. Each with what seemed to be an image of the fate that lay beyond, which did not seem all that appealing! However they had got this far, and this was no time to be afraid. It was time to take back what was theirs, once and for all.
The open cage
Drip, drip, drip, the blood dripping from the cages was relentless. They hang they above the heads of all those who dared enter the depths. It splattered the walls, smeared across… everything. “What had happened down here” Bonnie thought, squinting in the darkness trying to make out the shadowy figures approaching.
It was dark, damp and had that smell of a place that had seen a lot of death. Bonnie wondered if those Molochs who had not turned to against the haruspex. had suffered a brutal fate at the hands of their brethren. Or if the cages contained the remains of hapless warriors before her, knowing that the gods of Ancient Greece were using helpfully in resurrecting those who meet an early demise, but down here they may be force to an eternity in a cage. Drip, drip, drip… it continued. Bonnie shuddered.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she soon realised she was completely surrounded by the Molochs. Oddly none of them seemed to be reacting to her presence, they seemed to be somewhat mindlessly controlled by the Demra. “Alright, lets see how tough these bad boys really are” Bonnie thought whilst charging up her powerful electric mindforce. She hit the first one which immediately turned to attack her. They were mighty and strong with health, but not undefeatable and certainly not with the might of the Gorgons she had fought previously. Upon each death she was able to loot the creatures for what they held, but as of yet none of them had any sort of armour. Checking with her friends they too had not reported finding anything of interest. It seemed they would have to kill many of these creatures to get to the ones who may have already completely built a piece of the armour, and take it before they put it to use. This was not going to be an easy task, but one which must be done none the less.
It was another long hot day on Next island. The sun baked down on our weary explorer, yet it was hard not be in love with this place. The cool turquoise waters, tropical forests and enchanting wildlife was certain not something you tire of quickly. Bonnie had been exploring the final parts of the Island she had not been to yet, whilst contemplating returning to Ancient Greece. She was reminded of the stranger in at Thebes, who had encouraged her to come visit this place, but as of yet was left wondering why. Sure it had been lots of fun exploring, the locals and wildlife were certainly unique!, but she was left with a feeling like she was missing something.
The museum at Conqs Rest was full of clues of the factions and creatures who inhabited these lands, but there was a sense something was missing, or that she had not yet found. On her travels and conversations with the locals, the friendly ones that is, she had learned of the great exodus and the legend of the Pillars of Ether, and for as much as it made for some nice history of the people here, it did not help explain the dark forces which seemed to be at work in these lands. Each factions story of events varied, it was hard to know who to trust. Her instinct for adventure and exploration, was firmly set from her space exploration days, and as much as she longed to head back to the stars, she knew she had to finish what she started here, and find the Haruspex Elder.
The sun was beginning to set, the red and purple sky looking very fitting for this island paradise. As the air cooled, Bonnie mustered up the energy to continue the search. “Tanzanite” She read aloud from her map, “surely there must be some sort of clue there!”
Bonnie travelled across the map before finally arriving in Tanzanite. It was much a kin to some of there other places she had visited before. A few buildings here and some palms there. Bonnie sighed, deflated in her lack of finding anything of much interest. Just as she was about to leave, the winds picked up, spiralling dust all around the teleporter she was going to use, she glanced over to the swaying of the palm trees, when she was struck to see a faint green glow. “What on earth, or should I say Next Island, is that” thought Bonnie.
The winds settled as she approached the now still tree, and to her great wonder there it was, a glowing orb, like the kind she had seen before in Orpheus.
It was an elder, of the Haruspex. Although it would usually seem odd conversing with an orb, there was not much surprising these days! The elder spoke of a great tragedy and that they needed help. The Haruspex had been busy creating a new armour set, as a thank to the human colony for the continued assistance. ” A very powerful armour” the Elder emphasized. “However, unbeknownst to us, they have apparently been corrupted by the influence of the Demra, and that has persuaded them to keep the armours. They have stolen our gift to you.” He continued.
“Wait” Bonnie interjected, “who is Demra?” She asked trying to make sense of it all. It turned it it wasn’t a who at all, but a what, a molecule that might hold all the answers in these strange and beautiful lands. Bonnie had the feeling she was only scratching the surface of what really went on here.
“The molochs are very powerful, and with this armour, they may attempt to take that world, especially it they are under the influence of the Demra corruption. We need you to stop them, to fight them in their depths and retake the gift.” The elder warned.
The elder passed her the details of the ways to get to the depths, and the blood sacrifices that will be required. “It is time to take back what is ours” Bonnie shouted to the elder and she rushed off to the teleport to begin this new and exciting quest.
Unfurling the paper she had stuffed in her arm guards, Bonnie tried to make sense of her smudged list. It was her notes she had made whilst speaking with the Haruspex elder, the details of all the items she would need to get into the depths where the Molochs were, and of course what creatures will need to be sacrificed. She had met many of them on her travels, so had an inkling where they each might live, yet it did seem like an awful lot of blood was to be spilled for this.
Arriving at the beautiful beach under the shadow of the cliff side settlement of Crystal peaks, she chatted with the local gatherers, who were busy secreting the sweat from the large blue birds to later sell on. Bonnie was impressed by not only their patience, but the military precision in which they encircled the creatures to ensure maximum efficiency in the process.
She was careful to keep away from the birds, or screechers as they were known locally, the group were working on, and soon enough she had her sacrifices of the screechers checked off the list, and it was time to move onto the desert.
“These ones are mine!” an angry voice called in the distance, before her teleportation chip had even a chance to cool down. “I guess I am not the only one the Elder has sent” Bonnie chuckled to herself, moving away from the disgruntled hunter. The desert to the north was vast, but the creature herds not so much! The little desert crawlers certainly lived up to their name, but finding let alone killing 2000 of them seemed to be more challenging that she first imagined. “It’s too hot here anyway” Bonnie grumbled, ” to hunt during the day anyway, I’ll come back at dusk” Bonnie reasoned with herself, deciding it was time to go swimming in those beautiful waters instead. “How hard can killing a few sharks be?” She continued, leaving the blistering heat behind.
The cool water was a pleasant change from the burning sand, as she made her way down the beach and onto the shore line. The sea in front was vast, but seemingly surrounded almost on all sides by land. They waters were as deep as the sea lochs she remembered from her time on ancient earth, yet much warmer! “Should be easy enough to hunt here” Bonnie thought as she slipped under the water.
Using electricity under water to kill things, whilst you are also under water… doesn’t usually sound like the best idea, however Bonnies mindforce implant protected her from the dangers of self destruction. A few zapped sharks later, Bonnie was sure she saw something much larger in the water from the corner of her eye.
Her eyes darted to each of the creatures in visible range. “No, they are all the same” She thought as she studied each one meticulously”. ” Must have just been a shadow” She re-assured herself.
Then it happened again, something moved, something huge! In the distance, there was an enormous shadowy shape swimming through the waters. Bonnie immediately called for backup from her crew who were also in the area completing the mission.
A small group of hunters assembled. “What is it?” one of them asked. “Whatever it is, its huge!” another replied.” Well lets find out, shall we?” Said the admiral as his warning shot hurtled through the water toward the great beast. In that very instance, it turned and raced through the depths at break neck speed towards them. For such a mammoth creature it could move as though the water parted in front of it. “MEGALADON!!” Bonnie yelled as they all braced for impact. The sheer force of the creature on the water surrounding them knocked them all off kilter. Regaining their positions they opened fire on the fearsome mob, jostling to stay in position against its ferocious onslaught. Eventually the group gained the upper hand, and the beast was no more. “Now I know which ones not to shoot.” Bonnie joked to her team mates, as they each went in separate directions, hoping all to meet again when they can each gain entry to the Molochs Depths.
With the shade disappearing beneath the waves, what should have been a moment of great joy, quickly turned to sorrow. They had defeated the Shade of the Gorgon, they had completed the mission the haruspex had summoned warriors for, and freed Ancient Greece of the evil Gorgons once and for all. But at what cost? Many great warriors had died in their quest, many more lost on the travels. The pain of the enslaved creatures, the darkness of the Gorgons seared through each of them, the look in those creatures eyes never to be forgotten, the death and suffering to haunt these waters for ever more.
Bonnie turned to face the blooded army of Hero’s, each of them had fought like warrior poets that day, braver and with more courage than had ever been known. The grief, in that moment waned, turning quickly to an overwhelming sense of pride. A great cheer erupted from the still standing warriors, and gathering their weapons sloshed through the bloody water triumphantly, back to the cool white pillars of Knossos.
The strong figure of Aegeus awaited them, in his full glittering Gorgon Armour. “Your highness” Bonnie nodded proudly to the King of Athens as the army of hunters filtered by, each of them now with many of their own of pieces of such armour, as had been the promise of the Haruspex.
Bonnie, having made her way back to her home in Menelausia, sat peacefully contemplating the end of the mission and what was to become of them now. It was in that moment it dawned on her, whilst they had been busily working on their quest to free the lands of Evil, Ancient Greece had now become home. Those who were lost were not gone, they were a part of the warm sands, part of the cool waves, and their memories swirled in the calm breeze. Much like the people of Ancient Greece, these warriors too, were now free.
Thebes was growing. The influx of interplanetary travellers had been welcomed with open arms. Now they were not just visitors, but townspeople too. The market stalls once filled with only local wares, stood side by side with new stalls, filled with trinkets and weaponry from all over the known universe.
Bonnie was busy contentedly browsing through the market, when she felt someone approach.
“Haruspex presumably?” she questioned the stranger. “No, but I do come with a message” the stranger lowered the hood of her cloak, revealing an almost Myrinian form. “History is set to repeat forever in these lands, The quest is complete and for you and your men, but what happened that day will replay over and over, and others too will go onto face the Gorgon and her shade.” She continued. ” I thought something like that may happen here, Ancient Greece has an odd sort of way of playing with time.” Bonnie replied. But this did not abate the new sense of freedom, as no matter how often the Gorgon would re-appear, the settled warriors here knew they could take her down. The once legendary Gorgons of these lands, the evil she conjured, and fear she instilled in the people, had now become nothing more than an excellent creature to hunt. “Perhaps the Haruspex knew this all along, and this” Bonnie motioning across to all the newly sprung up stalls ” was the real plan” she continued. “The Haruspex are a peaceful and grateful people” the messenger added, ” You should come meet the elders on Next Island some day.” “Thank you” Bonnie replied as the messenger bid her goodbyes.
Next Island was the planet on which they first arrived, but at that point seemed to them the stepping stone to the Orpheus portal to get to Ancient Greece. Maybe it was time to go back across the portal and explore more of which that vast planet had to offer.
After many months of exploring the lands of Next Island, Bonnie was beginning to feel familiar with the vast differences in the lands, from the magical enchanted forests, to the bare baron lands of the stel. Mountains filled with wild and fearsome Drakes, Seas full of Sharks and Megalodon, right down to playful and slightly comical screechers birds of the beaches.
There was one place though, which she felt drawn to. It seemed to hold clues to learn more about these lands, and the people who reside there. Conq’s rest seemed to hold more than the magnificent museum you see when you first arrive, it is the resting place and memorial of one of Next Islands greatest hero’s, and within the great museum there were clues to secret missions and places, as of yet undiscovered.
Bonnie had hear rumours that a new Pyramid had been discovered, and within it a portal to a place where everything is not quite as it seems. The key to finding the way there began in the museum, and sure enough there it was. Encased in glass, the pyramid itself, well at least, a model of it. “This sounds fun!” Bonnie remarked to her friend, who had already turn on their heels and was making a dash for the door. There was always a huge urge for discovery amongst the non natives, after all they were interplanetary travellers, discovery is what drives them, so Bonnie was not so surprised to find herself abandoned and in what appeared to now be a race to find the Pyramid!
As it turned out, finding the museum was not the tricky part, it was deciphering the ancient code which was written all over it. This seemed to be the key to get inside. After chatting with a wise old ape and finding some ancient pillars, the portal was revealed. The next adventure had begun!
A huge glowing Toadstool sprouted from the dusty ground by the ancient pillars, looking precisely enough out of place enough to be exactly what she was looking for. The portal. Handing in the items used to open the door to the portal, Bonnie was filled with a sense of both excitement and trepidation. All that was know about this place was from the ancient text - “spirits of the blue menace, this we build for you. You who seem to move through dimensions and possess others, this we build for you. We wish you now give us peace, since this was built for you.” A place of ghosts did sound like an adventure indeed, but creatures who posses others, and needed pyramids built to keep the peace? Those sounded very intriguing indeed! Bonnie thought as she awaited her fate through the portal.
In that moment she was instantly transported in a magical mythical place. “Brrr, is absolutely freezing in here” thought Bonnie, shivering as ice crystals formed around. Compare with the usual paradise warmth Next Island usually enjoys, this place was cold! In the darkness there was a path of what appeared to be glowing plants. Following the path led to a forest where it seemed everything glowed! And a giant cactus none the less, this place was strange indeed, but not as strange as the creatures she was about to meet.
“Oh wow” Bonnie declared, ” You are… completely see through!” she shouted at one of the ghostly screechers, which turned out not to be a great idea as it turned to attack her. Then something even stranger happened. The creature contained the loot of others. Now the description made sense, creatures who posses others. This place lived up to its name, and was indeed truly magical.
Staring down thoughtfully at the huge mortar and pestle in front of her, Bonnie sighed ” Well, Thebes wasn’t built in a day, time to get crafting!” She had gathered all the basic ingredients from her hunts and travels around Ancient Greece, now it was time to put them to use! Creating the initial tools and brick to begin seemed easy enough, but it soon became apparent that things were about to get really tough.
“What seems to be the issue young lady? ” A tall shady figure browsing the local wares alongside remarked. ” Oh it’s, just my mission, building water features is way out of my comfort zone!” Joked Bonnie. ” Why on ancient earth would you bother then?” he continued. Bonnie beginning to feel uncomfortable by the strangers interest, replied “Do I know you?”. “We are always watching Bonnie, you will need to prove your worth if you ever want to face the shade of the Gorgon”. “Haruspex” Bonnie rolled her eyes and got back to work with a new sense of vigour, “I will show them, we learned a lot about crafting when on our space travels, how hard can this be.” her thoughts continued.
The sun slowly setting over the beautiful vista of Thebes dock, a cooler breeze swirled around the dust below the huge crafted structures as Bonnie added the finishing touches. Wiping the sweat wearily from her brow, she glances across the bay, almost a clear sight to Knossos, home of the Gorgon Lair. Turning back to her creations, she finds the Book of the Gorgons Shade, has been placed on her block. “I guess they found me worthy after all” She smirked, grabbing the book and tucking it safely under her arm, she headed back to Menelausia to tell the others, and summon an army.
A soft rumble of thunder from Mount Olympus in the distance, the water gently lapping the sands of Menelausia gave a far more peaceful feeling than that which was brewing within the hunters. They had created a beachside campfire for the evening, whilst discussing strategy and weaponry. “How do we fight a blooming shadow!” One hunter remarked, “Same as we do everything else”, the Admiral replied, ” We give it all we have got”. Much like the thunder, the chat rumbled on into the night. Bonnie had collected the three items needed to spawn the shade, the elixir, gem and book, but this was not the type of thing you jump into without careful planning.
Deep in contemplation, Bonnie rising from the group, made her way to the water. Something wasn’t adding up. “A hunter of shadows, himself a shade.” Bonnie whispered, “Homer?” A comforting voice from the figure walking behind asked. Turning to her friend, an avid hunter, whom had fought alongside them in many battles, both on these sands and across the universe, ” aye” she replied. “The Haruspex described this new enemy as the Spirit of the Gorgon, her shade, and we must kill both, but this may be a level of darkness we have never seen before”. Bonnie continued. “A shadow” her wise friend corrected. “The thing with darkness is, its everywhere the light does not find, but a shadow, only exists with light.” He said with his usual philosophic depth.
” You know your pretty thoughtful for someone so barbaric ” Bonnie joked, as they both stared across the water, glittering in the moon light.
“I think there will be more to destroying this shadow than it seems, but I guess there is only one way to find out!” affirmed Bonnie. ” That’s more like it” Her friend replied as they both made their way back to the team, to finalise the battle preparations.
rudging down the hill at Knossos, an army of hunters from all walks of life, and all the far flung reaches of the known universe, discussed what they were about to face. To fight the very spirit of the Gorgon itself, not just in body, but a deeper much darker force. This was not going to be a fight for the light hearted.
The huge white marble pillars of Knossos looked reassuringly familiar, whilst at the same time adding to the sense of enormity to the situation they faced. The Haruspex had been true to their word and had delivered to many of these hunters the fine armoury and plates as promised, yet the hunters had still not freed the land of the evil Gorgon, and her shade.
Bonnie strode to the front of the group, preparing to trade the three items required to become a shade spawner. Entering the same Gorgons lair they had fought so many battles in before, the sense of dread waned. “Ready?” She shouted to the vast group behind ” AYE!” they yelled back with force. Handing over the items, a silence fell over the lair. The birds stopped singing, even the air seems to stand still. For a moment, only their own breaths and heartbeats were audible.
Then with an almighty splash the enslaved snakes crashed through the hunters at the entrance. Much bigger than their predecessors, these monsters had a sense of fury running through their souls, the darkness had summoned them. Blooded and battered, the hunters ferociously fought off wave after wave of these beast, each round more terrifying than the last. Many great people fell below those waters that day, some never seen in that place again.
“They are all dead?” a broken voice mustered the energy to shout across the group. “Aye, but we know what’s next” Bonnie shouted back. “Stand fast” the Admiral declared, as the heroic warriors reloaded their weapons and wiped off the blood. Before they could so much as steady their breaths, she arrived, the almighty, all powerful Shade of the Gorgon. As horrendous as the one she embodied, but with far greater strength, and far deadlier. Forming a barricade of hunters all around, they opened the fire power of intergalactic army against her, and in those fleeting deadly moments, they destroyed the Shade of the Gorgon. Her shape disappearing into the waves below, they had completed the mission and could finally claim to be truly hero’s, At least… that’s what they thought.
We answered the call.
The warmth of the water lapping around our weary legs was unnervingly similar to that of the blood trickling from our gaping wounds. There was an unsettling comfort to this place. It riled something deep in your soul, the pangs of old earth, or at least a surreal vision of it.
They asked for us to come here, to help to overcome the creatures who plague this place. We intercepted their signal in deep space many years ago, it came from a group known as the Haruspex. The seem peaceful enough and are grateful for our efforts, but their masked faces gives the impression they have something else to hide. I am not quite sure on them yet. The appear to hold great power over the portals here, and therefor all those inside them, including us.
A sly hiss echo’s around us, these creatures are relentless. Their shimmering scaly bodies rising from the warmth of the water belie the inner darkness inside them. They too seem to have an affinity to what once was on old earth, and having come face to face with the hatred they harbour, I know they will not let go.
The exquisite beauty and crushing brutality of this place resonates with as all, as we stand there staring death in the face once again. We found ourselves with an ever increasing sense that not only do these creatures belong here, we now do too.
Wave after wave of battles, and yet somehow each one seemed to fill a piece of your soul you never knew was missing. I think we all, albeit secretly, were glad this had not yet ended yet.
I cant help but wonder if this was the Haruspex plan for us all a long.
Hisssss, they taunt us… The battle will begin once again.
The legend of the Heros
The sun baked down, as it always does here in Ancient Greece, but the gentle breeze from the sandy beach swirled around them as they walked through the palatial estate. “What happened to the Hero’s?” The space traveller asked. “You should be getting back already” Bonnie answered wryly, “They can’t summon you from here”. He knew however, underneath the commanders battle hardened façade, there was warmth.
“Well you see, it never ended with the snakes” Bonnie began, as they both sat down on the ledge of the fountain. Dragging her hand through the water dancing and swirling mimicking the snakes of Knossos. “When the Haruspex asked us for help, it wasn’t just the snakes we found, there was a much darker force at work.” She looked deep into the water, eyes steely as the memories came flooding back. “We should have known, that the promise that the most beautiful land on all of Ancient Greece could be ours, would have required more than just killing a few snakes” She glanced around the immaculate lawns surrounding them.
“Did you know it would be a Gorgon?” the traveller asked. “The clues were all there,” she replied, “but seeing the evil in those monsters in front of our very eyes, I will never forget” she took a deep breath, “You see, the snakes are angry, but it seems they have been enslaved by the Gorgon, The Gorgon herself however, reeks of pure evil, the likes of which I have never before felt in our universe” Trying hard to steady her voice. She didn’t want this new arrival to sense weakness, but this story was not an easy one to tell. “Many good people were hurt that day, and many more continue to be”, she said under an anguished breath. “I was one of the lucky ones, we answered the call early, and defeated what we now know was one of the first of them, to claim our own piece of paradise” She said. He could feel the bitter sweet tone in her voice as she rose, to get a better view of the island of Knossos to the south. “The battle rages on, new hero’s are created each day, the Haruspex lure them with the promise of incredible armour and plates.” She said, wincing at the irony of her words as she brushed her hair off the intricate metal sculptures on her own Gorgon armour harness. Turning back to the traveller, with the confidence in her voice returning she says, “They told us “This medal of Heroism signifies that the bearer has undying gratitude and respect of a nation.” The undying part made me chuckle, much like those Gorgons and their slaves…”
Striding off up the hill, her guest follows with haste. “You are welcome back to Menelausia any time” She shouts, “Take the Abdera TP back to Orpheus Cave, before you miss your flight, Normandie won’t wait
Ye Gods!
“I have a bad feeling about this” The healer grumbled as he watched the team pack their weapons and don the armour. “I mean, monsters are one thing, but gods?” He continued. The group scoffed at the thought, and rose slinging their weapons across their bodies. They were surely a fearsome bunch, but mortal none the less. “We have to try” Bonnie said, in a re-assuring yet hesitant tone. “Try not to die!” Joked the Admiral. Bonnie rolled her eyes and began the acescent up Mount Olympus.
The clouds rolled in as they neared the summit, ” He has to be around here somewhere” Said Bonnie. “How do we know he will show at all?” Asked the healer, with a pang of hope, “He will show” Another fighter in the team answered, ” He wont be able to stand the thought of us mere mortals reaching the summit of his mountain” He continued. They trudged forward glancing up to where the clouds began to break around the peak.
So why do we find our warriors on the side of a mountain goading gods into battle? Was a question each of them had asked themselves. They had surmised that the endless cycle of Gordons spawning, devastating the local wildlife and slaying hapless warriors, stank of divine intervention. There was a higher power at force here, and if they could take it out, they might have a chance at ending the chaos, defeating the gorgons once and for all.
Thunder rumbled in, the sky felt electrified. “This must be the place” said the Admiral. Just then, a huge lightning bolt darted across the sky, almost blinding them, the thunder crashed around them, shaking the very ground. They ducked for cover, then rose, riled and ready to fight! “If we can take down the god” Bonnie yelled over the thunder” then we might stop this madness” She shouted as the team took aim through the clouds. They had a mixture of weapons from around the universe, hoping some of the magic or engineering from the other planets might be enough to take on this god.
The clouds parted dramatically and there stood Zeus, before they could make out his full form he began hurling lightning bolts at them. Diving for cover, they felt themselves dragged back towards him. “Hold Fast!” Shouted the admiral, “Stick together!” “Fire!” Bullets rained through the clouds, lasers turning the sky into a cacophony of colour, great charges of ice and rocks slammed into the god, whilst flames engulfed him, and it was in that moment it happened.
Darkness, not like the kind we know, not even like the kind in space, but the deep silent kind surrounded them. Bonnie, took a gasp of air as if emerging from from almost drowning, blinking trying to work out where they were. Was this it? Were they dead? “Can’t be dead” Bonnie thought,” It bloody hurts!” She looked at the battle wounds across her body. Squinting in the dark she makes out the shapes of her team mates, as they fought to stand and make sense of it all. “Well that was new” Declared the Admiral, almost triumphantly. “Di..di..did he banish us here?” the healer trembled. “Nah, we will get out, I think its just the cave system” the fighter remarked.
Bonnie sighed, “We missed something” her eyes filled with the stories of the ancestors “Zeus’s son Perseus Killed Medusa back on old earth, what if we got it wrong, what if he is not behind the darkness, but wants to defeat it too?” She exclaimed. “That doesn’t explain why he didn’t just kill us” challenged the fighter. “Actually… maybe it does… ” Bonnie said with a sly smirk.
The Shadows
They stood quietly in the murky waters of the lair inside the hillside at Knossos, awaiting the next round. This ritual they had came to know well by now, slaughter the snakes and hope that one day the Gorgon would stay where she should be… dead. The quest up Mount Olympus had proven a complete waste of time, and now they were all out of ideas for helping the Haruspex to once and for all rid Ancient Greece of this most evil of beasts.
“Another one down?” A elderly Haruspex shouted from across the water. “Aye” replied Bonnie, “but she will be back”. The Haruspex held great knowledge of this world, even more than the Elysian’s, who also seemed to not quite understand why the Haruspex knew so much. Bonnie was still suspicious of them, but so far they had been true to their word and the warriors were being rewarded for their endeavours with ever greater armour and plates. “There may be worse to come, be careful my friend” the old man added. Curious that there could be a change in the works she packed up her weapons and trudged through the water back out of the Gorgons lair. Past the two beautiful statues of the gruesome beast, she found Aegeus stood there where the elderly Haruspex had been. “Oh, hello” Said Bonnie, quite startled to see the King of Athens from old earth here, or at least a vision of him. “Do you have info on the Gorgon for me?” He stood in the most marvellous Armour, certainly fit for royalty. He Began “This world can be strange”, “Not half” thought Bonnie, “and once something as powerful as the Gorgon has the level of control that is does here, often it cannot be fully destroyed so easily.” He continued “Her spirit, or shade may live on.” He described a way of collecting items from around Ancient Greece in order to be able to summon this “shade” of the Gorgon, to try and defeat her, in not just body but in spirit too, and try to put an end to all of this. “Great!” Thought Bonnie, “finally we are getting somewhere!”
Bonnie glances down at the notes she took from Aegeus, “Gem, Elixir, Book” She reads, “How hard can it be!”. She brushes the now dried blood and mud from her armour, trying to look more presentable to journey into town. “Thebes Market should have all the stuff I need, I am sure” She thought hopefully, it was a wonderful market town by the harbour, filled with trinkets and wares from all over Ancient Greece, if anywhere would have these items, it would be there!. Arriving in the bustling market square, she asks the market trader Carissa if she knows where to buy these items, who seems unimpressed by the question. Checking out a few more stalls, it seems no one has heard of these items. “Thanks anyway,” replies Bonnie to the final market trader ” I guess I will need to go find them myself”.
The measure of a Hero.
“Shopping! This wasn’t what we are here for” Bonnie thought leaving Thebes Market. They had answered the call to hunt these creatures, to free Ancient Greece of these evil Gorgons, get their reward and move on! But this wasn’t as easy as it seems. There was so much more at stake here than they had ever imagined. This place was not the idyllic paradise it first seems, but filled with legends, hero’s, gods and gorgons. So.. what is the true measure of a Hero in Ancient Greece?
Medals, estates, fancy armour and plates is one thing, but without ever killing the shade, the soul of the gorgon, once and for all completing their quest, could they ever be true hero’s?
“Gem, Elixir, Book of the Gorgon shade, I’ve got this” thought Bonnie, pensively, knowing fine well she feels far more comfortable with weapons than shovels! “Find a gem, how hard can it be!” Wiping the sweat from her brow with a muddied hand, this mining stuff was hard work. “Ach well I might as well do it on my estate, fancied a few more plants anyway” She mumbles heading to Menelausia. The excavator crunched into the manicured lawns, Bonnie shuddered, “just one gem, come on!” she taunted the mud below. The sky filled with golden lights, fanfare erupted and Bonnie was almost blown sideways! “What on Earth, or, er an vision of ancient earth was that! ” She looked around dumbstruck. A Hall of Fame entry, none the less, her very first. This place was not just full of the darkness of the creatures of ancient Greece, but the magic of the gods too.
Gem pocketed, Bonnie set about the next stage, the part she knew best, shoot stuff! Now this would be an adventure! Minitours, Myrinians, Centaurs, Cyclops, Zeus! How hard could it be….
Into the light.
The hunt took the avid adventurers all around the plateaus and islands of ancient Greece, the mobs ramping up in difficulty each time. But somehow, familiar. “These mobs are more like we are used to” The long gunner shouted. “Aye, they die and stay down” The admiral joked. Ancient Greece does have a lot of spirit, but it is not outnumbered by the regular mobs skulking the land.
“Centaurs next” Bonnie remarked, checking her instructions from Aegeus, “almost there!”. ” I don’t have a good feeling about these though” Bonnie continued. “What could be worse than the gorgon!” The healer joked back. “I don’t know, they just sit uneasy with me, They were the children of someone pretending to be Hera, Zeus’s wife” Bonnie added somewhat distantly. ” You think too much”, remarked the admiral, “ammo up and lets shoot.” “Theirs not to reason why,” Bonnie replied sarcastically.
The Centaurs held up to their legend as being wild and untameable, but ultimately succumbed to the interplanetary weaponry. Centaurs slayed it was time to once again meet Zeus. “This time we stick together” The admiral instructed. The lightning lit up Mount Olympus as the wrath of Zeus rained down. But together the hunters stood fast, and Zeus was defeated, for now. “An Entity” sighed Bonnie, “Aye, he will be back too” teased the long gunner. ” At least we can now move on with the mission to kill the shade of the gorgon once and for all” Bonnie proclaimed triumphantly, but looking outwards from their lofty mountain vantage point, it became more apparent than ever, that there will always be more to this mythical place than logic belies.
Trudging down the mountain, elixir at hand, it was time to see how hard it could possible be to create the book of the Gorgon shade.