Wrath of the Gods Page #22

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work cut out for him. Fortunately he had an ally in Athena

(a-THEE-nuh), who wanted Medusa’s head to decorate her own

shield in order to magnify its power by the Gorgon’s terrible

gaze. Athena told Perseus where he could find the special

equipment needed for his task. He was instructed to seek

out the Graeae (GREE-ee), who in turn might be compelled to

tell him the whereabouts of certain water-nymphs (NIMFS),

who in turn might be induced to give him the gear which

they guarded in safekeeping. Before sending him off in

search of the Graeae, Athena lent Perseus her own shield and

suggested how he might make use of it. Perseus found the

Graeae and then the nymphs and got the gear. This consisted

of a helmet of invisibility, a pair of winged sandals, and a

special pouch for carrying Medusa’s head around once he

had chopped it off—Medusa would retain the power of her

gaze even in death, and it was vital to hide the head unless

occasion called for whipping it out and using it on some

enemy. The god Hermes (HUR-meez) also helped out at this

point, providing Perseus with a special cutting implement—a

sword or sickle of adamant. Some add that it was Hermes,

not the nymphs, who provided the magic helmet and sandals.

Thus Perseus was equipped—one might even say overequipped—

for his task. In fact, a careful examination of the

hero’s inventory leads to the suspicion that we are presented

here with a case of mythological overkill.

Medusa

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A quick escape would be essential after slaying Medusa,

since she had two equally monstrous sisters who would be

sure to avenge her murder, and they had wings of gold or

brass which would bear them in swift pursuit of the killer.

So at least the winged sandals were a good idea. But if this

supernatural appliance guaranteed the swiftest of escapes,

why bother with a helmet of invisibility, which made it just

about impossible for the Gorgons to find you even if you

didn’t deign to hurry away? Because it makes for a better

myth, that’s why.

And so Perseus sought out Medusa’s lair, surrounded as

it was by the petrified remains of previous visitors, and he

found the Gorgon sleeping. Yes, even though he had the good

old magic arsenal, Perseus was not so foolhardy as to wake

Medusa. And even though her gaze could hardly be expected

to turn anyone to stone while her eyes were closed, he used

the mirrored shield provided by Athena to avoid looking at

Medusa directly. (This suggests that you could be turned to

stone just by gazing at Medusa, though most versions of the

myth have it that it was the power of her gaze that counted.)

Entering, then, somewhat unglamorously into the fray—if

“fray” is the right word to describe a battle against a

sleeping opponent—Perseus whacked Medusa’s head off.

At just this instant, the winged horse Pegasus (PEG-uh-sus),

offspring of Medusa and the god Poseidon (puh-SYE-dun), was

born from the bleeding neck. Then Perseus put the Gorgon’s

head into his special sack, donned his special getaway gear,

and departed victoriously before Medusa’s sisters could take

their revenge. Though these sisters were immortal, Medusa

clearly was not. She died when her head was severed, which

required the special cutting implement given to Perseus by

Hermes—an item of inventory strangely lacking in Wrath of

the Gods, in the world of which decapitation transpires with

much less messy magicality.

You enter this scene for the first time to the sound of a

ghostly voice.

VOICE THREE:

The Gorgon Medusa yonder waits

For any who would tempt their fate

Gaze not into her eyes, nor talk,

Lest you be changed to solid rock.

And don’t forget when deed is done,

Leave with haste, be seen by none.

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You hear the ghastly screams of Medusa. You can either go

back the way you came, or you can click across the meadow

leading northward. As you move in this direction Medusa’s

screams grow louder. Suddenly, Medusa looms and you

gaze upon her repulsive features. Cut to your reaction as you

are turned to stone.

The Gorgon recedes and Hermes materializes, holding his

caduceus (kuh-DOO-see-us)—a winged staff with two serpents

twined around it.

HERMES:

The schedule of Hermes, messenger of the gods,

is much too full to play nursemaid. Before you

cross Medusa again, you’d better be prepared—

or else.

He touches you with his caduceus and turns you human

again. Then he hands you something.

HERMES:

Here, take this. It’s the thigh bone of an ox

wrapped in fat.

As you turn, the item disappears from your hands and pings

into your inventory. Hermes disappears. Because a thigh

bone of an ox wrapped in fat was a traditional offering to

the gods, you can use it to get into the Temple (page 50). And

there you can procure Athena’s shield. (By the way, this is

one of the situations where the chariot stops come in handy:

you can catch a dragon chariot at nearby Mt. Pelion and fly

to the Mycenae station near the Temple.)

When you return with Athena’s shield, you select it in your

inventory and click it on yourself before advancing toward

Medusa, but first you must remember to “reflect upon it” by

clicking it with the eye cursor. Otherwise you are turned to

stone as before. Hermes materializes and touches you with

his caduceus.

HERMES:

In future pay more attention when addressed by

your betters. Athena said the shield might be of

use—if you reflect upon it.

If you don’t “eye” the shield, you approach Medusa

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crouching behind it, but you still get turned to stone. If you

do eye it, you back towards her looking into the shield’s

mirrored surface. Your sword is operational. When you

smite her, she writhes, cries horribly, and drops to the

ground. A notice says that you have been awarded 25

points “and 25 more if you escape.” You start to leave, when

suddenly Medusa rises up and pounces. She flashes her

hideous teeth. Cut to black and the sound of her gulping

you down.

You find yourself on Olympus, on the terrace outside

Hermes’ bedroom. Hermes comes through the door.

HERMES:

(sighing)

You guys never learn. Pay attention, it’s a twoparter:

leave with haste, be seen by none.

If you manage to die again:

HERMES:

We have a quota on miracles, you know. I can’t

continue to bail you out.

You are “caduced” back to the first screen of the module.

In order to “leave with haste, be seen by none,” you are

going to need the winged sandals from Hermes’ bedroom

(page 137) and the helmet of invisibility from the Nymph (page

46). If you’ve returned with all three items—shield, sandals,

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