Lively songs float across the open ground, while wine jugs and sacrifices are raised, weaving their way through the colorful crowd.
APPLe: A scene only recorded in ancient tomes and murals now comes alive before my eyes ...
APPLe: Merely on the merits of historical research alone, the invention of Huygens-Fresnel Interferometer is truly miraculous!
Vertin: Looks like X will have a permanent guinea pig for this experiment of his.
APPLe: Most certainly.
Regulus: Just don't forget to bring us along, eh?
Regulus: Because after this, I'm not letting you leave my sight. No matter if you head to a robotics lab or the dark side of the moon!
As they cheer and laugh, Perikles ascends the central stage and begins a speech.
Perikles: Fellow Athenians and distinguished friends from every polis—
Perikles: It is with great joy that we gathered here to mark the beginning of the Dionysia.
Perikles: Tragedy—is an eternal art form that speaks an enduring truth, and just as it endures, so too shall our civilization.
Perikles: Let no man, no foe, strip us of the right to bask in its timeless beauty.
Perikles: We do not bow to fear or menace, nor to any enemy, be they known or unknown.
Below the stage, Kassandra wraps up the scytale and stores it away.
Kassandra: When the Great Dionysos arrives, the Owl of Athena will whisper,
Kassandra: as Deimos descends into the mortal world.
Kassandra: Could Alexios ... No, Deimos, really stand such a provocation?
The Spear of Leonidas is gripped in her hand as Ikaros soars above the venue.
Kassandra's search doesn't take long. Her target presents himself just beyond the plaza's entrance.
Alexios: Perikles. Soon enough the cult will claim you.
Alexios: A necessary sacrifice to unify the Greeks.
Evzone: Protect Perikles!!
Kassandra: I cannot believe what has become of you ...
Alexios: You've arrived much faster than I thought, misthios.
Alexios: I should have known better than to trust in that secret code.
He raises the Sword of Damokles high. Its cold, sharp reflection casting halos in the sunlight.
Alexios: Do not get in my way! I will deal with you once I have Perikles's head.
Cultist I: Deimos, leave the misthios to us. Perikles must be slain!
Black-clad warriors rush out from the crowd; they cast off their robes to reveal dark armor that glints under the sun.
Kassandra: You will not run from me again.
Kassandra lifts her spear, her body tensing as she readies for the fight to come.
Kassandra: Our war ends today.
Evzone: You are not alone, Misthios.
Battle cries erupt from all across the festival grounds.
Cultist II: Malaka! Our plan has been discovered! Domitius betrayed us!
The cultist curses as the Evzoni form up their lines.
Cultist II: There is no end to the punishment that awaits him!
Cultist I: Calm down, Orestēs! Have faith in the Sage's plans. These brutes stand no chance against our numbers!
Cultist I: Kill them all!
COMBAT
The panicked, scattering crowd only adds to the chaos of the situation.
Made worse by the growing number of cultists that join the fray, keeping the Evzoni divided.
Evzone: Kassandra! These cultists are hiding among the civilians; we cannot hope to keep the Strategos safe here.
Evzone: Get Perikles to safety!
Perikles: Protect yourselves first.
Kassandra: ...
Perikles: You've done all that you could to prevent this, Kassandra. It was my hubris that led us to hold the Dionysia. I must accept my fate.
Alexios ascends the stage confidently casting aside the remaining Evzoni. His sword humming in his hand.
Alexios: Fate, indeed. Your fate is already foretold, old man. We have arranged each and every moment.
Alexios: Do you think knowing our plan would be enough to stop it?
Alexios: Look at the death you have brought on your own people ...
The chaos of the fighting has grown into a wild pandemonium.
Athenian I: SAVE YOURSELVES! RUN!!!
Regulus: What's all the fuss?
Athenian II: Get out of my way, foreigner! I'm not going to die in this place!
Panicked festival goers are rushing around the plaza in every direction, complicating the battle even further.
APPLe: Hold on, madam, you're headed the wrong way!
Athenian III: I'm not leaving! If we let the Dionysia end this way, it will surely bring his wrath down on Athens!
Athenian III: I fear the gods more than I fear the blades of men!
Vertin: Regulus, Mr. APPLe, we need to help Kassandra.
Regulus: What's your plan then? Because I don't see a way to get through that bloody mosh pit!
Regulus: Not that I've ever been to a gig with this many swords.
Vertin: Maybe not, but there might be some value in looking at this in the same way as one might manage a rowdy music festival.
Vertin: Even the wildest crowd can be swayed by the right performance.
She scans the chaotic scene; spying dramatic masks, wreaths of grapevines and ivy, golden statues of gods and heroes, and altars laden with offerings.
Vertin: The problem is, what would get their attention? A story maybe ... one of Dionysos's legends, or maybe a crowd-pleasing epic ...
APPLe: Vertin, if you're in need of some historical suggestions, this APPLe is ready to assist.
His offer of support rings like a melody in her ears. But it's his appearance that gives her an idea.
Vertin: ...!
Vertin: Yes, Mr. APPLe, I do believe YOU are exactly what I need.
APPLe: Wait, now hold on! Will either of you tell me why you've decided to gild me ... again!?
Vertin: I'll ask you to stop wriggling, Mr. APPLe. This paint is all we've got left from making our masks.
Regulus: Fab! Oh, but you missed a spot, a little more gold over here, please!