Calm Before the Storm was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description
With their plans in motion, Kassandra met with Darius, Natakas, and Kleta in the makeshift hideout in Patrai to begin the final evacuation of the stranded.
Dialogue
Kassandra completed her preparations and decided to meet with Darius and the others for the next step.
- Kassandra: I should find Natakas.
Kassandra drew near the ship hideout in Patrai and overheard Natakas sharing with Kleta the story of how he and his father first met Kassandra.
- Natakas: Father almost killed her when they first met. If I hadn't stopped them...
Kleta laughed.
- Kleta: Really? Who do you think would've won?
- Natakas: Um...
- Darius: I can handle myself.
Kassandra approached them.
- Kassandra: Good, we're all here...
- Kleta: We've done everything we set out to.
- Kassandra: Now, to get the stranded people out of Achaia...
- Natakas: The Tempest is on her way to install the Chimera's Breath on the Skylla.
- Darius: But we have the Chimera's Breath now... The Tempest will never know what hit her.
- Kassandra: Without the Chimera's Breath, she doesn't stand a chance. I am Poseidon's Chosen, after all.
- Kleta: What?
- Kassandra: We've done what we can to prepare.
- Darius: Now we have to execute.
- Kassandra: We'll surprise the Tempest. Barnabas and I will launch a sea attack. Using the Chimera's Breath to disable the Skylla will be our best chance to get everyone off the coast.
- Kleta: The merchant ships—
- Kassandra: The distraction should buy time for them to leave.
- Darius: Natakas and I will make sure everyone is onboard the ships. This is our chance to leave Achaia.
- Kassandra: Darius is right, Natakas. You should be on those ships. Both of you. They're your way out.
- Kassandra: If the Order knows both of you are on those ships, you'll be in trouble. If you're caught on the water, you'll have no way out.
- Darius: What do you think, Natakas?
Natakas looked down pensively as he replied.
- Natakas: It's our only chance.
- Kleta: You have to take it.
- Darius: We will.
Darius took his leave.
- Natakas: We'll need somewhere to stay until then... Somewhere that won't raise suspicion.
- Kleta: I know just the place... A house on the hill near Dyme.
- Kassandra: Let's go there now.
- Natakas: Look at this place...
- Kleta: It belonged to a friend of mine. He tried getting out of Achaia, but... he didn't make it.
- Kleta: I need to prepare the others. See you two soon.
- Kassandra: Go ahead. I'll meet you there.
- Kassandra: Where's your father?
- Natakas: Out. He does that sometimes. He'll be back.
- Kassandra: This house...
- Natakas: Kleta said it belonged to a friend of hers. He tried getting out of Achaia, but... didn't make it.
- Kassandra: I see.
Natakas commented on the atmosphere surrounding the dwelling.
- Natakas: There's something about this place...
- Kassandra: It's a beautiful place. Peaceful.
- Natakas: I know. Too bad we won't stay...
- Kassandra: It's nothing special.
- Natakas: I like it. It's peaceful. Too bad we won't stay...
They walked inside.
- Kassandra: So, what's next?
- Natakas: We'll probably keep running. As always.
Natakas' face fell, then he looked over at the table.
- Natakas: At least there's wine.
- Kassandra: At least there's wine.
They exchanged a glance and agreed to share it.
Night fell, and Darius, with his hood down, had a slain ibex slung over his shoulder. He walked it up the hill to the house to prepare it for dinner. Natakas roared, and he immediately dropped the deer and leapt into action.
- Natakas: What have you done!
Kassandra laughed.
- Kassandra: Stop it.
- Natakas: This is how I grew up.
Darius held position outside the door, Hidden Blade extended. He realized that Natakas was merely reminiscing.
- Kassandra: But seriously, your father is a very capable man.
- Natakas: He is. But emotionally.... He's hard to open up.
- Kassandra: It's hard to make friends for people like us. Living on the move, as we do.
Darius retracted the Hidden Blade and continued eavesdropping.
- Natakas: Though, we've met each other.
Kassandra held up her cup in a toast.
- Kassandra: To our friendship.
- Natakas: To our friendship.
Darius smiled as he heard them clink their cups together and giggle.
- Kassandra: Maláka.
- (Natakas also says Maláka, but it is not subtitled.)
Later in the night, after they sobered up, Kassandra and Natakas sat on the roof and stared up at the stars, as they did on the night they first met.
- Natakas: This reminds me of when we met in Makedonia—we ate boar beneath the stars. It was the first time in a long time that I felt home. I haven't felt it since... Until tonight.
- Kassandra: Then let's make the most of it.
Natakas smiled and they continued staring up at the sky as Ikaros flew past.
Dawn came, and Darius and Natakas had already left. Kassandra looked out at the Istion Valley from the roof.
- Kassandra: I should find Darius and the others. The stranded people are probably at the docks already.
She took another leap from the roof and traveled north, where she met Kleta overlooking the docks.
- Kleta: Eagle Bearer. Over here.
Natakas stood on the beach near the dock.
- Natakas: The boats will be ready soon. Be safe, Kassandra.
Darius stood on the dock below.
- Darius: Eagle Bearer. Thank you. For everything.
Kassandra finished talking to Natakas and Darius, then joined Kleta overlooking the passengers boarding the ship out of Achaia.
- Kassandra: My friends. It's probably the last I'll ever see of them.
- Kleta: The last time I saw my Phila, we were arguing. We always did. I wish I had told her how much she meant to me. How proud of her I was. Now that she's back, I'm scared I won't recognize her.
Kassandra fixated on Natakas as Kleta spoke, who appeared to be giving instructions to some of the stranded. It looked as though he was holding back sadness. Kleta took notice of Kassandra's fixation and sensed the bond that had formed between them.
- Kleta: Real connections with people are rare, Kassandra. We shouldn't be too quick to let them go.
- Kassandra: Real connections are hard to find. I may be letting one go right now... I don't know.
- Kassandra: I'm a misthios. I can't afford connections.
The first ship fully loaded and disembarked. Darius and Natakas joined the women on the cliff, when Barnabas ran up to them.
- Barnabas: Captain! Hey, Captain!
- Darius: What's going on?
- Barnabas: A massive fleet has gathered nearby. They seem to be waiting for something, but we don't know what.
- Kassandra: The Tempest.
- Kleta: The ship... These people...
- Kassandra: She knows. Somehow she knows.
- Kleta: They're going to kill us all in one swift blow!
- Kassandra: We won't be destroyed. I'll sink every last ship.
- Kleta: How?
- Kassandra: I can't take on an entire fleet...
- Barnabas: We have to do something, Captain!
- Kassandra: Barnabas, ready the ship for battle. And the Chimera's Breath.
- Barnabas: Aye, Captain! She's ready to go. Let's send this storm straight to Hades.
- Barnabas: It isn't ready yet. We haven't even finished assembling it! I'll need—
- Kassandra: We'll start without it. Keep working.
- Barnabas: Aye...
- Darius: Natakas and I can handle things here. Good luck, Kassandra.
Kassandra took her leave while Natakas looked on with worry. The Adrestia waited in the waters below.
- Kassandra: Barnabas should be on the Adrestia by now. I need to hurry!
Outcome
Kassandra and her entourage executed their plan to evacuate the stranded. However, the Tempest had somehow learned of the plan and sent a fleet to dash them against the shore. Kassandra and Barnabas took to the Adrestia to meet the fleet head on.
Trivia
- Darius assumes the group to "have" the Chimera's Breath even with just the plans retrieved in Theatrics and Espionage. The actual progress of the weapon is not referenced until the very end of the quest.
Gallery
