The Cultist King

A Bloody Feast

• Recommended Level: 39
• Prerequisite: The Conqueror
• Unlocks: The Battle of Pylos
• Story: With an Olympic victory for Sparta and the Athenians dealt with in Boeotia, you meet with the two kings. You change Sparta forever when you accuse one of them of being a Cult of Kosmos member.

Talk to Myrrine in Front of the Throne Room

Lakonia: Sparta

Use the Temple of Athena Chalkioikos (1) to fast-travel to Sparta. Head southeast in Sparta to the kings’ chambers (2). Instead of meeting Brasidas in front of the chambers, now you find Myrrine waiting for you. Talk to her.

Conversation with Myrrine

Myrrine asks you if you are ready to go in and confront the kings to get your land back. She asks if you have enough proof to accuse him. Even if Lagos didn’t give you proof (if he lived) you’ll be okay. We got your back. Answer “Of course I have enough proof” instead of “I should look for more proof.” She says she’ll gather the ephors and meet you inside. You can ask “Who are the ephors” and “See you there” to go in. The ephors are the jury.

Conversation with Kings Archidamos and Pausanias

First the kings want to hear how you finished their favors. You can say “Sparta has an Olympic victory” or “Boeotia is under control,” and either selection will reveal both truths. With so much good news they ask why you assembled the ephors. One ephor says they’re there because they were told serious charges would be brought. Pausanias asks, “Against whom?” Now you can accuse him or Archidamos by selecting “Agianst Pausanias” or “Against Archidamos.” Pausanias is the puppet king. The rest of the conversation goes according to if you have the proof or not.

Conversation if you have proof from Lagos

You have physical proof if you were able to save Lagos’s life. You reveal that Pausanias blackmailed Lagos and that he held the Archon’s family hostage in exchange for helping the cult. Pausanias does not contest the story, and the ephors exile him from Sparta. King Archidamos gives you citizenship and your home back. You meet Myrrine outside and she tells you to go deal with Pausanias and then to meet her at home.

Conversation if you have no proof

You never received physical proof because you killed Lagos. The ephors declare your evidence no proof at all. The kings curse your name, and as Pausanias passes by you, he whispers in your ear a confession, “Too bad you don’t have a mask or a black cloak to save you this time”—proving he was in the cult meeting with you earlier in Delphi. You are dragged out of the building, but outside you tell your mother what you learned and have to go after Pausanias just the same as in the other scenario. He’s a cultist. He must die.

Find and Assassinate Pausanias

The version if you had evidence from Lagos

If you had evidence from Lagos that Pausanias was guilty then he’ll be alone on the road (3) in the Village of Gytheionwith no protection. Although a warrior battle right there could attract Spartan attention as well as mercenary attention, all in all it’s an easy kill on the streets.

Find and Assassinate Pausanias

The version if you did not have evidence

If you did not have evidence from Lagos that Pausanias was guilty then you’ll find Pausanias walking on the street (5) on his way to the Leader House (6) in northern Sparta. You’ve been pushed out of town, so you start (4) farther south than the kings’ chambers. Mount Phobos and immediately make your way after Pausanias. You can catch him near some city stairs (5), which is a good place to assassinate him without a lot of witnesses (you don’t need more Spartans or mercenaries joining the fight).

If you do not catch him before he reaches the Leader House, then you can find him just outside the house, standing near the Spartan warrior statue (6). You can clear the house and save him for last or just take out witnesses first and then fight Pausanias. Or fight everyone at once. Once he’s dead, confirm the kill and collect the cultist goods, including a cultist clue (ghost’s whisper to Pausanias) and his sword, the Xiphos of Dionysos.

Most importantly, you receive cultist proof (quest item). Next, you need to see King Archidamos again, this time with real proof.

Return to Archidamos

Return to the king (2) and speak with him once again.

Conversation with King Archidamos

You apologize for not having proof earlier, but now you do, and the king asks if you are sure and if Pausanias is okay. You can say either “I killed him” or “He’s gone.” Either way the truth comes out. You show him the proof you got from Pausanias’s body and explain the cult to the king. He returns your home and gives you citizenship.

Return to Myrrine at Leonidas’s Tomb or at Home

Depending on what storyline you are on, you will meet Myrrine either at the Tomb of Leonidas or at the home that is now yours again. Since in our timeline we have already let your mother receive visions from touching your broken spear of Leonidas at the tomb (7), you’ll go to home (8). If you do go to the tomb first, you’ll still end up at home for the next conversation.

Conversation with Myrrine and Brasidas

Myrrine notices that the rabbit skull from your first hunt is gone, and you both assume Nikolaos took it after seeing you again. You can respond “He still cares…” or “Anyone could have taken it.” Brasidas walks in and says he’s headed to Pylos and wants your help. You can respond “I’m happy to help,” or “I’m too busy in Sparta.” Tell him you will help. The Athenians are pushing back, and Deimos is there too.

This is a story-changing conversation. Your mother asks you to bring Deimos back. You can answer “I’ll bring Deimos back,” “I can’t promise that,” or “It’s too late.” We suggest selecting the first answer. If you’ve been following this guide, then you’ll have done all you can to make this reunion happen. If you failed by killing Nikolaos or if you mess up a future conversation with Deimos then selecting anything else could end up in a disaster for the family-first storyline. The Battle of Pylos unlocks when this conversation ends.

The Battle of Pylos

• Recommended Level: 41
• Prerequisite: A Bloody Feast
• Unlocks: Uprising quest line and Doing Time quest
• Story: With Spartan soldiers cornered at Pylos, Brasidas asks you to join forces with Sparta to help turn the tide of battle. It is also rumored that Deimos will be fighting for the Athenians.

Talk to the Spartan Officer on the Beach

Messenia: Bay of Hades

Ride Phobos out of Sparta heading west through Pitana (1). Pick up the side quest Training Days while there to help earn more XP. Also explore the war-torn town of Aipeia in the Valley of Aristomenes on your way to the Bay of Hades. Synchronize with Aipea Port (2) and accept the message board side quests.

Get to the Spartan war front camp (3) near the south shores of the island on the west side of the Bay of Hades. Speak to the officer.

Conversation with Spartan Officer

The Spartan officer has a very low first impression of you when you ask to see Brasidas. He asks you why you want to see him and you can respond either “None of your business” or “He’s a friend.” He tells you to stop, that he has orders to wait for reinforcements. You can respond either “I am your reinforcements” or “They’re not coming.” He escorts you to the battle near Brasidas.

Kill the Enemy Captain

You enter a smoky and bloody battle like you’ve not witnessed yet. But the battle system is the same. Kill captains when you can spot them to quickly lower the Athenian (blue) health bar at the top of the screen.

Use your strongest weapon, along with Shield

Breaker and Hero Strike, to mow through the Athenians. You find Brasidas in the battle after taking out a couple captains.

As soon as you find Brasidas you also spot Deimos coming toward the two of you through the mayhem. Deimos wounds Brasidas, which makes you very angry.

Kill Deimos

You tell Deimos the fight is between the two of you and that Brasidas had better not die.

Deimos’s health bar is at the top of the screen during the battle. Stay within the ring of fire to battle Deimos. You must approach this like any other fight, but be aware—Deimos has abilities no other enemies possess. Whenever you see a radius of red around you or Deimos, roll out of the red zone to avoid damage. When Deimos takes a knee to recover, attack during this vulnerable moment.

If you miss a blocking opportunity, watch out for Deimos’s piercing stab, lift, and throw move. This is devastating. Make sure to block, and roll away from attacks you don’t think you can block.

Roll into a clear area between light beams when Deimos uses the special ability that produces long-reaching bursts of yellow light that spread outward to the ends of the battle ring. Don’t get caught with a light ray across your body. 

Defeat Deimos by building up adrenaline and striking with your strongest abilities, as you would against any other high-level enemy. Drain Deimos’s health to complete the objective.