Legends Unbound. (Adventure in the Trojan Saga and Try to Survive.)

Hey you all choose to play with the dog, not me.

Book 0: Godly Doggo's

Playing with Cerberus: The Hound of the God of the Underworld was chasing your cat. You needed that cat alive to keep the mice away. So you played fetch with it… until his master's son picked him up from you.
-----------------------------------------------

You enjoyed Cerberus's unexpected appearance in the fields a few months ago, even though it scared the living daylights out of Ajax, your cat. You still weren't sure why your mother had named a female cat Ajax, but you had long since learned not to question her peculiar choices. Asking questions about your mother's decisions was a surefire way to invite trouble into your life. It was safer to accept her eccentricities without probing too deeply.

The sight of a three-headed hound from the underworld, with its menacing red fur and copious amounts of slobber, had certainly been a shock. But as your father had wisely remarked, "Dogs will always be good to you if you are good to them, even wolves and monsters." It was a rather risky philosophy, but it seemed to ring true in this case. Despite Cerberus's terrifying appearance, the hound hadn't been hostile. It seemed content to wander through the fields, sniffing at the crops and occasionally gnawing on a particularly tough weed.

So, while Ajax had taken refuge atop the highest cabinet in the house as you rescued her from the dog chasing her, glaring down with a mix of feline disdain and fear, you had cautiously approached Cerberus. The monstrous hound had responded with a wag of its tail—well, tails—and a surprisingly gentle nudge.

You then ordered Cerberus to leave, but the dog didn't budge. It quickly became clear that attempting to forcefully shoo away the infernal red beast of the underworld was a poor strategy; the hound didn't take kindly to assertive gestures. Realizing a different approach was needed, you decided to try a more playful tactic.

You picked up a large stick and tossed it away from the fields, hoping the distraction would work. To your surprise and mild dismay, you quickly learned that one stick wasn't enough—you needed three. Cerberus, with its three heads, seemed to expect a separate stick for each. The monstrous hound eagerly fetched the sticks, dropping them back at your feet with an expectant look in all six of its eyes, ready for another round.

It turned into a somewhat tedious game, with you having to pick up slobbery sticks every few minutes as Cerberus gleefully ran to retrieve them. Despite the inconvenience, you couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Here you were, playing fetch with a mythical creature, trying to keep it entertained enough not to cause any trouble.

Thankfully, despite its enormous size and fearsome reputation, Cerberus was surprisingly gentle. The dog bounded through the fields with impressive grace, careful not to trample a single crop. This was a relief, especially since you had a vested interest in preserving the carrot crop; they were a favorite in your household, and you didn't want to lose them to an overzealous underworld pet.

In the end, your impromptu game of fetch proved successful. Cerberus eventually tired out and, with a contented huff, lay down at the edge of the field, gnawing on one of the sticks. You sighed in relief, glad that the situation had resolved without any harm to the crops—or to you. As strange as it was to have the guardian of the underworld lounging in your fields, you couldn't deny that it had been an entertaining and unforgettable experience.

The strangest thing happened then. From an underwater cave near the temple of Apollo, a young lad emerged, dressed in an unfamiliar black outfit that you couldn't quite place. He walked over to you, looking somewhat hesitant.

"Um, excuse me, sir, that is my dog," he said. It wasn't Hades, which only left one possibility—his son, Zagreus. You weren't exactly in the mood to offer him any courtesy. The situation was already bizarre enough without adding a divine visitor to the mix.

"Thank the gods and your father," you replied, exasperated. "Get him out of my fields. My parents are coming back from the market soon, and having a three-headed dog here is going to raise questions I don't have the answers to." As you spoke, you pulled a fully grown carrot from the ground, took a bite, and then offered it to the young man. "Want one?"

"No, thanks," Zagreus responded politely. "Did he cause any trouble?"

"Thankfully, no," you said, relieved. "So, why are you here, Zagreus?"

He flinched slightly at the mention of his name. "How—?"

"Who else from the underworld would be wandering about looking for a giant three-headed dog named Cerberus? Hades himself?" you teased with a smile.

Zagreus sighed. "My father said I lost the dog, and it's my responsibility to find him and bring him back safely. It's my punishment."

The boy looked young, perhaps ten or eleven, though you knew gods aged differently from mortals. "Well, he's here now. Just try to keep an eye on him, though. He scared my cat, and I need that cat to protect our granary."

Zagreus looked down, clearly feeling ashamed. "I'm sorry he caused you any trouble."

"He was actually quite good company," you said with a reassuring smile, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Now, go along. I have chores to do and a cat to calm down."

Thankfully, Zagreus called his faithful hellhound and the dog went after him, towards that cave and disappeared into the Underworld.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Your cat's name is Ajax, but it's a girl?" Hector said in disbelief as you traded a glance with your mother, who shook her head.

"That's the thing that surprises you, prince, that my cat is called Ajax, and not the three-headed dog that roamed around my fields?" You asked. Father traded a glance. "My father's fields?"

"Well, it does lend credence to other events happening around Troy and the rest of Aisa Minor." The King stated. "Monsters on the march and attacking our colonies and that of our allies. I need a slayer that can deal with them, that's why I'm coming to you."

Father then exhaled and was tired. "No. I have ought your wars and won you battles and slayed your monsters. I'm done fighting for you."

"You're the greatest warrior Troy has ever seen. Besides maybe my son." Piram replied.

"And I am old. Troy is not in danger, and I do not want to play your political games for cementing your alliances and securing your power. I have no desire for servants or slaves, nor wealth or power." Your father replied. "I have gained all I ever wanted, so do not seek to tempt me with false promises."

Piram then looked at you. "Your son will serve."

"I need him." Your father replied.

"And Troy needs him as well. He has experience with monsters, and I need a slayer who does not fear them." Piram said.

"Cerberus was no monster, he was a dog, unlike others." Father said.

"Still. He will accept." The King replied.

Do you accept?:
[]Yes: You have no choice.
[]No
---------------------------------------------
You stood before the gleaming armor, the spear, and the shield—brand new and freshly forged. The metal shone with a cold brilliance, but your father's expression was darkened with displeasure. He hated it, and you knew why.

"Remember what I taught you," he said sternly, his voice tinged with an urgency you rarely heard. "And you will stay alive."

"I know," you replied, though the weight of his words pressed heavily on you.

"You will know," he insisted, his eyes boring into yours. "When you face a beast and the only things standing between you and death are that shield and spear, do not lose them. But don't rely on them either. Your mind is your greatest weapon."

"Yes, Father," you murmured, absorbing the gravity of his advice.

For a moment, the strong, unyielding man you knew faltered. Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to spill over. He reached out, placing a hand on your shoulder with a grip that was both gentle and firm. "I love you," he said, his voice breaking slightly.

"I love you too, Father," you replied, your voice soft with emotion. You stepped forward and embraced him, feeling the rough texture of his work-worn hands as they held you close. It was a rare moment of vulnerability, a stark contrast to the stoic figure he usually presented.

As you pulled away, you glanced back at the armor, the spear, and the shield. They were more than just tools of war; they were symbols of the life that lay ahead, of battles yet to be fought and victories yet to be won. But most importantly, they were a reminder of the lessons your father had imparted to you—lessons not just about survival.
-----------------------------------------------

Reward: You are now the Slayer of Troy, a professional monster hunter who kills monsters for coin, fame, and Kingdom.

You will die, its expected of you. Most don't last the year.

But maybe you can conquer and become a legend.
----------------------------------------------

What is the First Order of business in your new role?:

[]Pray to the Gods: You want the gods to be watching you, to protect you, or at least not try and kill you.
-[]Who do you pray to?

[]Recruit Help: Maybe you can hire some help from the old guard and hunters, and build a team that will assist you.

[]Visit court: Piram wishes to see you, to introduce you, to his court, and to make sure you do things well. Or rather, so he can do things well to you.

[]Find the Cave: You are going to be hunting monsters. Maybe you can find where that Cave Zagreus came from, and you can see if the Underworld can be of assistance to you.

[]Write in.

AN: Enjoy.