Strangers

The heroes try to escape from the underworld with the help of the Shades.

Starting objective: Seek the shades.

Difficulty levels:

  • Easy:
    • Less enemies
    • No Wadjet ambush in the ruins (11)
  • Hard:
    • Less shades, more enemies
  • Titan:
    • Even less shades, even more enemies

You start this mission near the caved in passage to the surface. (1) Under your command are Ajax, Arkantos, Chiron, four hoplites and four toxotes. Your human units won’t be very important on this mission since you only fight myth units. Unlike normal missions, your human units and heroes can only see one meter ahead of themselves. You need to gain the support of shades to see further.

Travel west and you’ll soon encounter your first shade. Shades are invisible to enemies, and can see a normal distance. (Which your other units cannot.) Shades can instantly kill any enemy on this mission, but they dissapear once they do, so save them for the tough battles. Shades are hidden all over the map, so check the side alcoves along the way to grab them. (Marked on the map above with *‘s.) Don’t be afraid to use your Shades, but make sure you have at least one, so you can scout ahead, revealing new shades and avoiding potential threats.

Travel further west. You’ll see a Minotaur (2) and be given a new objective.

New objective: Kill the Minotaur. (2)

You don’t actually have to use the Shade to kill the Minotaur…just use your heroes to kill it and hold onto the Shade for later. You’ll gain some additional shades once you kill it and get your next objective.

New objective: Collect the three lost relics of Hades.

You don’t have to worry too much about this objective, since you’ll encounter all three relics on your travels through the underworld. Travel north and east. You’ll soon notice some Medusae ahead. (3) Use your shades to take out one or two, then take out the rest with your heroes. (Keep your human units out of the way at first – if the Medusae pick them as their targets, they’ll turn them to stone.) Scout south and southeast to gain more shades.

Travel east towards the first relic (4) and kill the Minotaur guards, then destroy the fence. Pick up the first relic (4) with one of your heroes to remove the boulder wall barring your path and gain another shade and the bronze god power. (Which is kinda useless on this mission really, since it only affects your human units.) Scout to the east to locate another Shade before following the path north.

Your next challenge will soon be revealed to you. A large group of Cyclopes is patrolling around the Temple revealed in your path. (5) Try to get the attention of one or two at a time by using Chiron or one of your Toxotes. If you accidentally get the whole lot swarming down on you, use your shades and the Bolt god power to thin their numbers to what your heroes can manage. While your Hoplites aren’t much use against the throw attack of the Cyclopes, your Toxotes can safely attack at long range. Once the Cyclopes are dead, scout north to reveal another shade before continuing west.

The next area is inhabited by Mummies, whose special attack is also devastating on your human units. They are fairly weak against your three heroes though and should go down rather quickly. Scout east to gain another Shade. Proceed along the path towards the next relic. (6) There are several Crocodiles lurking in the water, but your heroes will make short work of them. Grab the second Relic to gain the Restoration god power. Scout to the west to gain another Shade.

Continuing north along the path you’ll encounter the the Charon Ferryman. You’ll gain another Shade and control of a Charon Ferry. Load your units aboard and head south, several more Ferries will appear under your control. Use these to fight the Krakens that will appear soon after from the south. (Be sure to keep the ferry loaded with your heroes and shades away from the Krakens!) You’ll lose several of your ferries, but the Krakens will not prove much of a challenge. Unload your units near the flag. (8) Nearby are two centaurs and another shade. (9)

As you proceed forward, Hades will cast the Plague of Serpents god power. The Serpents are pretty pitiful creatures and your heroes will plough through them pretty quickly. Proceed through the ruins, making a quick detour into an alcove to the west to grab another Shade. When you are nearly out of the Ruins (11) you will be ambushed by a large group of Wadjets. The Wadjets will go down quickly to your heroes, but make sure your other units are out of the way if you want to keep them alive. Proceed north to the third relic. (12) It’s guarded by quite a few enemies, and you may wish to take out a few of them with your Shades. Grab the third relic to gain the Lightning Storm god power and your next objective.

New objective: Bring the three relics to the Temple complex. (14)

Continue along the path. The next area is full of wolves, (which shouldn’t provide much challenge) and Hades usually casts the Forest Fire several times in this area – simply move your units away from the burning trees to avoid taking damage. There are several shades scattered around this area. Finally, you’ll encounter a large group of Cyclopes and Minotaurs. (13) Cast the Lightning Storm god power to thin their ranks to what your heroes can manage. You may want to use a few Shades as well. Travel beyond to encounter your final challenge, a few Colossi. Once you defeat them, simply enter the Temple Complex (14) and you’ll be rewarded with victory. (Provided you remembered to pick up all three relics. You did, didn’t you?)

On to mission 11

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