Wrath of the Gods Page #32

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Nereus (NEE-ryoos), with his fifty daughters, the Nereids

(NEE-ree-ids). When Theseus (THEE-see-us) was being taken to

Crete (KREET) to be sacrificed to the Minotaur (MIN-uh-tawr),

he encountered one of these deities. As the ship bearing

Theseus and the other sacrificial victims drew near to harbor,

King Minos (MYE-noss) made rude advances to one of the

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sacrificial maidens and Theseus sprang to her defence,

claiming that this was his duty as a son of Poseidon. Minos

suggested that if Theseus’s divine parentage were anything

but a figment of his imagination, the gods of the sea would

sponsor him. So Minos threw his signet ring overboard and

challenged Theseus to dive in and find it. This Theseus did,

being abetted indeed by the deities of the depths. Not only

did he retrieve the ring, but he came upon an underwater

palace where he was given a jeweled crown by one of the

Nereids.

You find yourself on the foredeck with King Minos. If you

talk to the seagull up the rigging, it poops on you. If you talk

to Minos:

MINOS:

So you claim to be a hero. Well, let’s find out if

the gods of the sea will favor your quest. I dare

you to retrieve this ring.

He takes off his ring and throws it overboard. You dive in

after it.

You enter a maze-like submarine geography. As the Oracle

will tell you if seek a hint, “The deal here is that every

time you run into a shark, you get sent back to the starting

point—just like in real life. Not.” She gives you this hint for

free but says that if you don’t want to map this maze for

yourself, you’ll have to buy a hint.

With the Oracle’s help or on your own, you eventually

navigate around the danger and reach an underwater palace,

where a sea-goddess awaits. If you talk to her, she hands you

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the ring that Minos threw overboard. And with a smile she

holds out a crown and places it on your head. You pop up to

the surface, triumphantly bearing aloft the crown and ring.

Minos is not impressed.

MINOS:

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

FADE OUT:

The Minotaur

FADE UP ON PORTAL TO THE LABYRINTH. The

Labyrinth (LAB-i-rinth) had been so cleverly and intricately

devised by the master builder Daedalus (DEED-uh-lus) that

once thrown inside, a victim could never find the way out

again. And then there was the fact that sooner or later, he or

she would round a corner and come face to face with the alldevouring

Minotaur (MIN-uh-tawr). This was the fate which

awaited the hero Theseus (THEE-see-us).

When Theseus first entered the maze he tied off one end of

the ball of thread which Ariadne (air-ee-AD-nee) had given

him, and he played out the thread as he advanced deeper

and deeper into the labyrinthine passages. Many artists

have depicted Theseus killing the Minotaur with his sword

or club, but it is hard to see how he could have concealed

such bulky weapons in his clothing. More probable are

the versions of the tale which have him coming upon the

Minotaur as it slept and then, in properly heroic fashion,

beating it to death with his bare fists.

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You, the Guard, and King Minos stand before an imposing

portal. Over it is inscribed, “Labyrinth. Enter at your own

peril.” A torch on the wall flares brightly. If you click on it, it

falls to the floor. The Guard hops around stamping it out. If

you talk to King Minos:

MINOS:

Throw him to the Minotaur!

The door creaks open; the Guard prods you in with his

spear. You find yourself in a maze of architecture. If you seek

the Oracle’s advice, she says to start mapping if you want

to be methodical, or following your nose if you don’t. She

offers to jump you to the end of the maze, but it will cost you

ten points. One way or another, you reach the center of the

Labyrinth and come upon its monster.

Now you might realize why Hera (page 150) didn’t think you

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But before you can enjoy your triumph, you find yourself

face to face with a very angry bull-man. Now it’s time to

make like Theseus and use your fists. By a combination of

punches to the body and snout, you vanquish the monster of

the Labyrinth. You receive 50 points.

were ready for your final adventure before you’d been to

Bull-Leaping school (page 124). The challenge here is the same:

jump too soon and you get thrown by the Minotaur’s horns,

jump too late and you get gored. In which case:

FADE UP ON MOUNT OLYMPUS. You find yourself on

Hermes’ bedroom terrace. The god enters, brandishing his

wand and looking decidedly put upon, but he only touches

you with the wand and sends you back to the Minotaur.

When you time it better, you vault acrobatically over the

Minotaur’s back.

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Now it’s time to start navigating the maze to find your way

out again. Once more your only real hope is to remember the

hero Theseus and the ball of thread that he got from Ariadne.

If you think to use the clew in your inventory...

...you emerge from the Labyrinth in triumph. King Minos is

nowhere to be seen. In the midst of celebrating your victory,

you dematerialize in a shaft of light.

Finale

FADE UP ON MOUNT OLYMPUS. You materialize on

Olympus and kneel before Zeus’s throne.

ZEUS:

You have done well. Your labors are

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accomplished and you have saved your people.

The King of the Olympians anoints you with his staff.

ZEUS:

You are now fit to hold the title of hero.

Congratulations, my son.

(pause)

Yes, you are my own child. Like all true heroes,

you are semi-divine. Now it is time for you to

rescue your mother and return to Mycenae,

where your subjects await. Yours will be a long

and contented life. For you have successfully

completed…the Trials of Olympus.

YOU:

I’d just like to thank all the little people who

made this possible.

FIREWORKS. FADE OUT. CREDITS.

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