Nadia Higgins - Perseus the Hero: An Interactive Mythological Adventure

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YOU are the mighty hero Perseus. You must go on an epic quest to save your mother and claim your throne as ruler of Argos. On your journey, you will face deadly monsters, cunning gods, and powerful kings. Can you survive?

Chapter One sets the scene. Then you choose which path to read. Follow the links at the bottom of each page as you read the stories. The decisions you make will change your outcome. After you finish one path, go back and read the others for new perspectives and more adventures. Use your device's back buttons or page navigation to jump back to your last choice.

YOU CHOOSE the path you take through this mythical adventure.

Long ago, King Acrisius of Argos sought an to learn about his future. The oracle foretold that the king would be killed by his daughters son. Fearing the oracles prediction, King Acrisius locked his daughter, Danae, in a bronze dungeon with no doors. There was just one slit of a window at the top to let in the sun.

Danae spent her days singing to her reflection in the mirror. The god Zeus heard her voice rising from the earth, and he fell in love. Zeus turned himself into golden slivers of light and shone down in Danaes chamber. Thats when your story the great story of Perseus began.

You had curls of gold as a baby, just like the god. Acrisius heart almost stopped when he heard your infant cries coming from the dungeon. The next day, Acrisius locked you and your mother in an oak chest. Then he pushed the chest into the rough ocean waters. You and your mother could easily have drowned.

For days the chest bobbed and spun on the waves. Then one day the water stilled and sunlight streamed in the chest. You and your mother landed safely on the Greek island of Seriphus.

Years have passed, and now you are a young man living with your mother and the kindly fisherman, Dictys. But you are not a mere farmer or fisherman you are a son of Zeus.

Your gray eyes hold a cleverness far beyond your years. You are stronger than three oxen combined. You are so daring, you dive off cliffs and chase sharks.

But all is not well for you on Seriphus. Dictys brother Polydectes is king. The jealous ruler cannot bear to see Dictys happy. Though he rules Seriphus, Polydectes has always envied his brother. Polydectes sees your beautiful mother and decides she will be his queen.

No, thank you, Danae said politely when Polydectes asked for her hand. He continued to ask, and Danae declined, each time more firmly. The king sent her gold bracelets, silk ribbons, fresh figs, and every other object a queen might desire. But no gift could woo her.

You have warned Polydectes to stay away. It appears he took you seriously. The king has announced his plans to marry another maiden. But you remain wary. You worry Polydectes still intends to make your mother his bride.

To show his goodwill, the king has invited your family to the engagement feast. All the other guests have come with expensive gifts. But you have no gift to offer the king.

But, Perseus, King Polydectes smiles. You alone can bring me what I want most of all.

What is it? you ask. Whatever it is, I will bring it, on my mothers honor.

Bring me the head of Medusa, the , Polydectes says.

The crowd gasps at the kings request. But you stand tall. Your life as Perseus the hero has begun. Choose the quest you wish to explore.

Youve accepted Polydectes challenge to slay Medusa. And now it feels like a litter of snakes has hatched inside your gut.

The Greek elders have a saying your blessing is your curse. You never really understood it until today. Your reputation for fearlessness is legendary throughout Seriphus. But today it may become your downfall.

Medusa. When you boasted that you would bring back her head, the crowd was stunned. Your mother screamed, and King Polydectes smirked.

Who what is Medusa? you ask your mother back at your cottage. Her voice catches in her throat as she tells you the story.

Medusa is a Gorgon, one of three sisters who live hidden in the deserts of Africa, your mother says. Medusa is the only sister who can be killed. But it wont be easy. She has scaly green skin and poisonous snakes for hair. Some say she cries blood. And just one glance at Medusas face will turn a man to stone.

Youre speechless as you take it all in. Three fearsome Gorgons. Poisonous snakes for hair. A deadly gaze.

This is your fate, Perseus, your mother sighs. May the gods help you.

Your mother is right. You need help from the gods. But which god will you ask? Athena is the goddess of wisdom and protector of heroes. But Zeus is the king of the gods, as well as your father.

You decide to ask Athena for help on your quest. As you walk into the goddess , an owl flies in and lands on the rafters. The bird is Athenas symbol and pet.

Perseus, a womans voice echoes behind you. Follow me.

You follow Athenas owl along the seashore. You travel to the mouth of a cave that smells like seaweed and saltwater. Three young women with hair down to their ankles come out from the darkness.

Perseus, youve come at last! they cry. We are the of the north. We have been expecting you. We have what you need.

One of the nymphs holds out two items.

You must choose just one magical gift, she tells you. In one hand, she holds a pair of gold sandals with feathered wings. Wear these sandals, she says, and you will fly like a bird.

In her other hand is a gleaming wooden stick. This is the staff of revival, she explains. If you die, this staff will bring you back to life. But remember, its magic works only once.

The nymph closes her eyes and begins to sing.

A magic item you must take. Choose well; make no mistake. One choice makes your way fair. The other only brings despair.

The three nymphs look at you expectantly. Which object will you choose?

As soon as the staff is in your hand, the nymphs disappear. Their footprints have vanished. Their cave is just a dune of sand.

Please, come back! you call out. Which way do I go? But all you hear is the crashing of ocean waves.

You know there is no time to waste, so you begin your search for Medusa. Your mother told you the monster lives in the desert, so you turn inland. You carry the staff at your side. But without the winged sandals, you must walk. You walk for days. Your own regular sandals soon wear down to nothing. You continue on barefoot.

The weather gets hotter and hotter, and youre having trouble finding water. The sky is endless blue, without a cloud in sight. Your hands are full of sores from ripping open cactuses. You ate their juicy meat and drank the liquid inside. But now there are no cactuses left.