Inside a dimly lit hall, a throng of people stands at attention. Their black armor and grotesque masks presenting a cold and ruthless atmosphere.
Their Deity of Fear paces in front of the central altar, looking ill at ease.
Alexios: Do you guarantee the safety of this place?
Cultist I: Of course, Deimos.
Cultist I: A foolish cultist has been locked up in the Athenian prison, but he wouldn't dare speak out. Besides, the Evzoni are busy with the Dionysia and thinned out to fight in the battle for Potidaea. They don't have time for us.
Cultist I: Besides, with you here, there is nothing to fear. Even if some meddling misthios were to discover us, you would end them in a heartbeat.
Alexios: Hmph. That much is true, Pendoros.
Alexios: But my skill will be no excuse for your failure. You had best remember that.
Alexios: And what of your coded messages? Are you certain our plans are secure?
Cultist I: Worry not, Deimos. The Athenians shall never decipher it.
Cultist I: We've utilized a scytale. I believe you may be familiar with it, being a Spartan.
Alexios: You do know that the Misthios with the Broken Spear is a Spartan as well?
Cultist I: Yes, but she was not raised as a warrior of Sparta; she would not have learned the means of deciphering it.
Alexios: We shall see, and as for the code, you've hidden it in these files?
Cultist II: Though they may appear ordinary, they are anything but.
Cultist II: The key is hidden in the handle.
Cultist II: Even if the file or one of our craftsmen were to fall into the hands of the Athenians, they would remain baffled by the code. So our plans remain concealed in shadow.
Cultist II: Even as they search vainly for answers, our coded message already lies hidden in plain sight within the temple.
Cultist II: Yet none will know it until it is time to strike.
Alexios: You had best hope that all is as you say. I will not have anything stand in my way this time.
He grabs the file from the cultist's hand and tosses it away.
Alexios: My sword aches for the time when I will slash down those banners.
Alexios: I should have killed her then.
Cultist II: The Sage appreciates your patience. You have proven more than worthy to wield the Sword of Damokles.
Alexios: He deems me "worthy," does he? He forgets his place!
Alexios: With this sword, I will strike off the head of Perikles.
Alexios draws his sword and flicks it, easily cutting through a nearby banner.
Cultist II: Let Athens be enlightened.
Cultists: Let Athens be enlightened.
Their chanting spills out from their hidden sanctuary.
"Cultist III": I-I have a question ...
A hoarse voice comes from the crowd below.
"Cultist III": Forgive me. I forgot the ... order to wrap the strip.
Cultist II: What a fool! Who recruited this worm? We have no room for dead weight.
"Cultist III": Y-you're right. It's my fault. I shouldn't have raised a stupid question ...
"Cultist III": I should wait until the ritual ends and ask the Great Deimos for the answer in private ...
Alexios: ...
The man's face falls into a stern look as he turns his eyes to the tattered ribbons on the ground.
"Cultist III": People say that the mighty god Deimos possesses wisdom beyond the ken of mere mortals ... I'm sure he can answer all my questions—
The words break Deimos's stride if only for a brief moment.
Cultist I: Shut your mouth, pig!
Cultist I: Deimos's time is precious. How dare you waste his time on such a stupid question?!
Cultist I: Get over here! I'll show you. But this is the last time.
"Cultist III": Oh, thank you. Thank you for your guidance.
"Cultist III": And thank you for your wisdom, O Chosen One.
Alexios: ...
The cultists scatter into the city like ash in the wind.
All except for the lone fool.
She instead makes her way quietly back to the prison.
She returns to find it much more lively than she had expected.
Every corner seems to be echoing ferocious curses from a familiar voice.
The Rookie "Actor": Deceivers and villains! You swore you would set me free once I told you where to go!
The Rookie "Actor": Deceitful outlanders, shameless imposters—more shameless even than the lowliest pig!
Cultist III: You seem to be in high spirits, Domitius.
The Rookie "Actor": Isonia?! Is that you? Did they capture you too?
The appearance of another cultist momentarily ends his tirade.
The Rookie "Actor": N-no, you're not Isonia. Her arms are not quite so bulky ...
Cultist III: And I am not quite so stupid.
As she removes her mask, her identity becomes clear.
Kassandra: You may leave now, friend. You helped a great deal in protecting Perikles.
Kassandra: Especially in helping us figure out that scytale. Well ... with some help.
The Rookie "Actor": You—
APPLe delivers a purposefully dramatic bow.
The Rookie "Actor": Enough ...
APPLe: In fact, sir. I owe you a great debt.
APPLe: If you hadn't mentioned scytale, this APPLe might never have uncovered the secrets of your cult's communication.
Regulus: Who would've guessed that my chief mate was such a scholar, eh? I never heard of Spartan crisp-ology before.
APPLe: There is a cryptographer I've worked with at the Foundation; we often shared research and discussed the latest developments in the field.
APPLe: You'd probably be familiar with the name, Enig—
Regulus: Oi, stuff a sock in all that egghead talk, will you? I get enough of it at work.
Domitius returns the group to more pressing concerns.
The Rookie "Actor": But how did this strange creature even know what a scytale is? Pendoros promised us that it was a closely guarded secret of the Spartans!
The Rookie "Actor": How in the name of Zeus and all Olympia could you have found out?
The man's voice cracks and fades as he cries out, at last crashing back in his cell from shock and exhaustion.
Vertin: With a little more time, I do believe he might figure out we're time travelers.
APPLe: All the better that he's insensible now—I salute your commitment to keeping our secret, Mr. Domitius.
APPLe: Of course. Learning that the file was a scytale was just the beginning.
APPLe: It's one thing to know of the existence of a cipher and another to know how to read its code.
Regulus approaches the man and offers a comforting pat on his shoulder.
Regulus: ... Don't be down, mate. Just think, your name is going to live on in legends told by the rocking-est bards around!
Regulus: O sing a song of Domitius, a man who's just and wise♪ Who unmasked the darkest schemes and guided the Eagle Bearer to her prize♪
Regulus is, predictably, completely off-key, leading her friends to respond with playful laughter.
Kassandra: Just think of the rewards that Perikles will bestow on you for saving him.
The Rookie "Actor": Enough! Enough—
The Rookie "Actor": Just let me die in here! I'm worm food either way!
