Free GreekQuest by Herbie Brennan

may not be the best decision you’ve ever made. While I’m sure you have no desire permanently to injure the priest, he now has every desire to cut you into little pieces and feed you to the crows. His Life Points stand at a healthy 60. His dagger strikes at +4 and if he ever throws a natural 12, he will pray to Apollo to strike you dead and Apollo will comply without a moment’s hesitation. If the priest kills you, go to 13 . Should you bring his Life Points below 15 (since you definitely don’t want to kill him) he will capitulate suddenly and take you into the temple at 82 .
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    You rub your chin. “I think Athena’s your best bet,” you whisper. “I happen to know there’s a good chance of war between Troy and Greece. You could do a lot worse than getting a little supernatural help for your side.”
    â€œYou want him to pick that hideous freak?” screams Hera, obviously having overheard every word. “She wasn’t even born - she jumped out of her father’s forehead fully grown.” She turns her head upwards so she’s staring into the sky. “Zeus - punish this stupid young person!”
    â€œYes, dear,” sighs a tired voice from the heavens. With which a thunderbolt crackles from the cloudless sky to strike you dead.
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    Your hair will have stopped standing on end by the time you reach 13 .
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125
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    You peer curiously through the open entrance in the wall around this scruffy building to see three men, two women and a youngish boy all hard at work cutting bits of leather. One of the men looks up and spots you.
    â€œHallo,” he says, “is it repairs or a new pair of sandals?”
    â€œWell, neither actually,” you tell him. “I’m just trying to find my way around.”
    â€œWe’ve got very good sandals here,” he insists. “Best in Sparta. Bit expensive, admittedly, but then you have to pay for quality. Three obols a pair.”
    There’s a heap of sandals beside him in various sizes and they do indeed look rather stylish.
    The man notes your hesitation and says, “Tell you what. If money’s the problem, how about giving us a day’s work? We’ve a rush order on and we could do with all the hands we can get. I’ll pay you a drachma, which is a skilled worker’s wage. Can’t say fairer than that.”
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    Considering you’re far from skilled, that’s very true. If you want to spend a day as an Ancient Greek shoemaker, turn to 96 . If you have three obols already and want a new pair off sandals, turn to 155 . Otherwise you can return to 61 to select another destination from your map.
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    â€œPositively, absolutely, definitely not!” you exclaim, striking a noble pose.
    To your surprise, the priest drops to his knees, closes his eyes, clasps his hands and intones in prayer, “Great Zeus, this not so humble servant of yours refuses to comply with the traditional ritual of the oracle. I thought I’d mention it to you in case you wanted to do something about it.”
    At which a thunderbolt slams down from the cloudless sky and strikes you dead.
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    Looks like old Zeus finally lost patience. Go to 13 .
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127
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    â€œWrong!” shouts the huge man, casually hurling you all the way to 61.
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    So pick yourself up, dust yourself off and select another destination from your 61 map.
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128
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    Dappled sunlight. You’re in a clearing in the woods.
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    Paths lead north east to 152 and west to 156 .
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    â€œYou’re right!” roars Menelaus. “This confirms exactly what I thought. In