Blake Hoena - The Trojan War: An Interactive Mythological Adventure

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YOU are a mighty hero caught up in the brutal Trojan War. You must pick sides and try to win the war. Will you be able to help solve the conflict between the Greeks and Trojans and make it out of battle alive?

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.

Zeus sits on his throne high up on Mount Olympus. He is god of the sky and ruler over all of the other Greek gods. From his throne, he watches for threats to his rule in the world below.

Many gods and have tried to overthrow him. But no god, monster, or mortal has succeeded in taking his throne at least not yet.

Suddenly, Poseidon appears at Zeuss side. He is the god of the sea and Zeuss brother.

Turn your watchful gaze to the island of Lemnos, Poseidon says.

From his throne, Zeus sees the sea nymph Thetis. She sits on a sandy beach talking to her father, Nereus. He is the ancient god known as the Old Man of the Sea. Anything Nereus has to say is worth listening to. He has a knack for knowing things that might come to pass.

Bear a child, fair goddess, Nereus says to his daughter. And you shall be the mother of a youth whose deeds and might shall surpass his fathers.

Nereuss words worry Zeus. Any child born to Thetis would be more powerful than her husband. If Thetis marries a god, her son could grow up to be mightier than Zeus himself.

Any godly child of Thetis could threaten your rule, Poseidon says, in a panic. That could mean trouble for all of us Olympians!

Then she must marry a mortal, Zeus replies.

But who? Poseidon asks. She is a . She wont want to marry just any man.

He will need to be a great hero, Zeus says.

Zeus turns his gaze to Mount Pelion, where the wise old Chiron lives. Chiron has trained heroes, from Hercules to Theseus, in the art of combat. Today, he is training with Peleus, one of the heroes who traveled with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. He will do just fine.

Zeus sends word to Peleus that he is to marry Thetis. Not wanting to anger the powerful god, Peleus agrees.

Peleus sails to the island of Lemnos and waits for Thetis on the beach. Peleus sees her swim to shore and sit on a piece of driftwood. He quietly sneaks up and wraps his arms around her.

But Thetis is a shape shifter. She becomes a lioness, roaring and clawing at Peleus. He does not let go. Then Thetis turns into a snake and tries to bite Peleus. Still, he holds on. Finally she becomes a shark and thrashes wildly. Peleus does not loosen his grip. Eventually, Thetis gives up her struggle and takes the form of a woman.

What do you want from me? she asks.

Your hand in marriage, he replies.

Thetis knows they are destined to have a mighty son, so she accepts Peleuss proposal. Their wedding is held on Mount Pelion. All of the gods are invited, except for Eris, goddess of strife.

Eris tries to sneak into the wedding, but Zeus catches her.

You are not welcome here, Zeus says.

She points at three goddesses sitting at a table.

But you invited Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera, Eris says. Let me join them. Ill behave.

No, Zeus replies. You only cause trouble. If you do not leave, I will force you out.

If I must, Eris scowls. But first

Eris tosses a golden apple onto the table where the three goddesses sit. Then she disappears.

Hera, the goddess of home and marriage, reaches over to pick up the apple. The words To the Fairest are inscribed on it.

Athena, goddess of wisdom, takes the apple from Hera and says, It must be meant for me.

I am the fairest, without a doubt, says Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

Soon, the three goddesses are shouting at each other over who deserves the apple. And when gods argue, people suffer. The disagreement leads to one of the greatest wars recorded in myth. The Trojan War pits a large Greek army against the mighty city of Troy. Gods pick sides in the conflict, and the mightiest heroes of the day take to the battlefield. Which side will you take? Which hero will you be?

The kingdom of Troy is a powerful and wealthy city on the Aegean Sea. King Ilium built Troy around 3000 BCE. He prayed for guidance, and the magical dropped from the sky. This small wooden statue was a gift from Athena. It is said to protect the city from invaders.

Troys most stunning features are its outer walls. They were said to be built by the gods. According to myth, Poseidon and Apollo had once planned to overthrow Zeus. Zeus punished the two gods by forcing them to serve Troys King Laomedon for a year. The king asked the gods to build walls that could never be brought down.

Sections of wall are connected by five massive towers. Each tower defends one of the gates to the city.

Troys might and wealth rival that of any Greek city. At the time of Peleus and Thetiss wedding, King Priam and Queen Hecuba ruled Troy. Within the kingdom lived heroes equal to those of Greece. One was King Priams son Paris, and another was Aeneas, a distant relative of the kings.

While pregnant with you, Queen Hecuba dreamt of a flaming child. Not knowing what this meant, she sought out the Aesacus. He told your mother that you would be Troys doom. So when you were born, King Priam and Queen Hecuba sent you away. You were raised by a herdsman on Mount Ida, far away from Troy.

Years later, you stand on a mountain slope tending your herd. Suddenly, Hermes, the messenger of the gods, appears before you.

The mighty Zeus commands you to make the choice, he says, handing you a golden apple.

You are confused. As you turn the apple around in your hands, you notice the words To the Fairest inscribed on it. You look up to ask the god what it means. But instead of Hermes, three goddesses now stand before you.

You gulp nervously. You have just been asked by the ruler of the gods to make an impossible choice. Three powerful goddesses look at you expectantly. You are to choose who is the fairest.

If you pick me, the motherly Hera says, you will rule over a vast kingdom and have extreme wealth.

If you pick me, the wise Athena says, you will be skilled in combat and always victorious in battle.