The Labours of Heracles

(text-style:"underline")[''The Labours of Heracles. ''] You are Heracles, a human with divine power. You have powerful friends, like the goddess Athena, and powerful enemies, such as the goddess Hera. Hera has been trying to destroy you for ages. She recently caused you to go insane and kill your wife and children, but she has not finished with you yet. As penance you have to serve King Eurystheus for ten years and do any tasks he sets for you. --- Your first labour is to ... [[Kill the Nemean Lion]]

Your first task is to kill the lion that has been causing trouble in the town of Nemea. You trek across the country to Mount Tretus where you see the lion about to enter its lair. In front of you stands the Nemean Lion. It has beautiful golden fur. Its mouth is covered in blood. --- [[Shoot it with arrows]] [[Strangle it with your bare hands]]

You pull an arrow from your quiver and put it in the bow. You pull back as hard as you can and aim at the beast's heart. You let go. The arrow flies through the air and hits its target but bounces off without hurting the creature. It seems the animal's fur is especially tough. --- [[Strangle it with your bare hands]]

You jump on top of the beast and avoid its claws and teeth. With you mighty arms you grab the animal's neck and squeeze as hard as you can. Finally, the lion's body stops moving. It is dead. --- [[Carry the lion back to King Eurystheus]] [[Remove the lion's fur]]

You pull out a knife and try to remove the lion's fur. Unfortunately, it is too tough. Maybe you should try something else? --- [[Try the knife again]] [[Use the lion's claw]]

You try the knife again. It doesn't even make a mark. --- [[Try the knife again]] [[Use the lion's claw]]

You grab the lion's claw and use it to cleanly slice off the lion's strong fur. You put on the fur and feel especially protected. --- Congratulations! You have completed your first task. Your next labour is to ... [[Kill the Lernaen Hydra]]

The Lernaen Hydra is a horrible creature and nine fire-breathing heads. Your task is to kill it. You walk for weeks until you reach Lerna, a town by the sea. With help from Athena you find the Hydra in its lair. The Hydra stands before you. Your nephew Iolaus is with you. --- [[Cut off a head]]

You pull your sword from its sheath. The sharp metal shines in the light. While dodging the fire from the Hydra's mouths you slice clean through one of its necks. The neck twists and turns in the air. You start trying to remove another of the horrible heads when you notice that the head you just cut off has grown back. This is going to be harder than you thought. Your nephew Iolaus sets fire to a nearby tree. --- [[Cut off another head]] [[Ask Iolaus what he is doing]]

You slash again at another head. Again and again they regrow. Iolaus stands nearby fanning the fire to keep the branches burning. --- [[Ask Iolaus what he is doing]]

Iolaus suggests using the burning branches to stop the flow of blood after a head is cut off. Maybe that will stop the heads from growing back. --- [[Ignore Iolaus and keep slashing at heads]] [[Take a branch and try Iolaus' idea]]

You cut and cut and cut but the heads just keep growing back. Iolaus' idea is sounding better and better. --- [[Take a branch and try Iolaus' idea]]

Holding the flaming branch in one hand and your sword in the other you slice at one neck then push the fire into the wound. You stand back to see what happens. Iolaus' idea worked - no new head has appeared. You quickly take care of the remaining heads. After each cut you burn the skin with the flaming branch. Soon there is just one immortal head remaining. You slice the neck and it falls to the ground. Although it doesn't have a body it is still alive. --- [[Leave the head where it is and go home]] [[Hide the head]]

You start to walk away but begin thinking that maybe if you leave the head here it will be found by Hera. Maybe it will be able to regrow a new body with her help. It's probably better not to just leave the head where it is easy to find. --- [[Hide the head]]

You grab the head and walk until you find a large rock. Using your great strength you lift the rock and place the head underneath. You are sure it will remain hidden and will not be found by men or gods. Before replacing the rock you use some of the Hydra's blood to make your arrows poisonous. With the lion skin and the poisoned arrows you are more powerful than ever. --- Congratulations! You have completed your second task. But wait, when Eurystheus hears of Iolaus' part in your victory he decides that this task does not count. You still have nine labours to go. Your next labour is to ... [[Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis]]

The golden hind of Artemis is a large deer-like creature with golden horns that is considered to be sacred by Artemis, the goddess of hunting. Your task this time is not to kill the animal but to capture it and bring alive to Mycenae. --- [[Track the Golden Hind]]

You set off to track the Golden Hind. You pick up sign of its hooftracks after a few weeks and continue to track it. Eventually you see the animal but, as you must not kill it, you continue to follow it. The seasons pass and you continue your quest for a year, keeping your sword and arrows in their place. You notice the animal becoming slower and weaker as it approaches Mount Artemisium. As it approaches the river Ladon you see a chance. --- [[Fire an arrow at the creature's head]] [[Fire an arrow at the creature's legs]]

You pull an arrow from your quiver and take aim at the animals head. Moments before letting the arrow fly through the air you remember that you must return with the animal alive. You move your aim to the beast's legs and let go. Your aim is true. The arrow goes through the skin but does not hit bone or muscle. You lift the animal onto your shoulders and begin the walk to Mycenae. After a while you meet the goddess Artemis in your path. She is furious and demands to know what you are doing. --- [[Explain your situation to Artemis]] [[Try to run away]]

You tell the goddess of your labours and she listens patiently. After a few minutes of thought she nods her head and allows you to pass. You continue to Mycenae with the Golden Hind and deliver it as ordered. --- Congratulations! You have completed your third task. Your next labour is to ... [[Capture the Erymanthian Boar]]

Really? You're going to run away from a goddess of hunting? An //angry// goddess of hunting? You really should reconsider. --- [[Explain your situation to Artemis]]

Your next task is to capture a wild boar that has been causing trouble near the Erymanthus River and, once again, bring it back to Mycenae. You track the boar to a small group of trees. --- [[Sing to the boar]] [[Shout at the boar]]

You begin singing. For someone so strong and powerful your voice is surprisingly sweet and soft. The boar does not move from its hiding place. You feel its wild eyes upon you. --- [[Shout at the boar]]

You stand and let out a roar. You see the trees shake. You have frightened the boar. You shout again, this time even louder. The boar rushes out of the trees. At first he rushes left then right and finally runs towards a nearby snowdrift. --- [[Follow the boar]]

You follow the boar into the snow. You can see the cold is making it slower. You leap onto the boar and tie it down with a chain. You heave the animal onto your back and head back to the city of Mycanae. --- Congratulations! You have completed your fourth task. Your next labour is to ... [[Clean the Augean stables in a day]]

Well, this isn't a very heroic task. In fact, it's disgusting. The stables of King Augeas are famous as the home of 3000 cattle. They are so healthy that they can happily live in a stable full of dung and not be bothered by the smell. The people who live nearby are not so lucky. They have to put up with the smell every day. --- You stand before the stables with 3000 cattle moving about in front of you. The smell is terrible. You see an old basket lying on the ground. You hear water rushing nearby. --- [[Pick up a basket and start moving the dung out by hand]] [[Smash some holes in the wall. Maybe some fresh air will help]]

You throw the basket onto your back and push cotton into your nose to block the smell. You look at the basket and the pile of dung and work out that there's no way you can clean this in a day. The smell is getting worse. --- [[Smash some holes in the wall. Maybe some fresh air will help]]

The stable walls are strong but your fists are stronger. In no time you have created two large holes in the stable wall. Looking through them you see two rivers rushing by. --- [[Dig trenches from the rivers to the stable]]

You move quickly and finish the trenches by noon. The water moves quickly along the trenches towards the holes in the stable wall. As it gushes through the stable it washes away all the waste and mess. In no time, the stable is as clean as the day it was built and the air is once again breathable. --- Congratulations! You have completed your task. But wait! When Eurystheus hears what you did, he decides this doesn't count either because the river did the work for you and adds another labour for you to complete. You still have another seven labours to complete. Let's hope that's all. Your next labour is to ... [[Kill the Stymphalian Birds]]

This one is a bit more heroic - no dung this time. The Stymphalian birds live near the Stymphalian Marsh. The are large and their beaks can break through armour. They also like to eat human flesh. Your task is to get rid of them. You stand before the marsh looking at hundreds of birds. --- [[Drive the birds away with arrows]]

You fire arrow after arrow at the birds but there are too many. Some leave but soon return. Perhaps it would help if you could get closer to them. --- [[Walk across the marsh]]

As soon as your foot touches the marsh you can feel it getting sucked down. You realise you are too heavy to walk any further and quickly get back onto dry land. When you get back you see a rattle sitting on the bank. It must be a gift from Athena. --- [[Throw the rattle at the birds]] [[Shake the rattle]]

You pick up the rattle and throw it as hard as you can. It lands in the middle of the flock of birds, hits one on the head, and sinks into the marsh. The rest of the birds don't move. They look angrier than before. At your feet lies another rattle. It's probably better not to waste this one. --- [[Shake the rattle]]

You shake the rattle. It starts quietly and gets louder and louder. The noise frightens the birds and they take off into the air to escape the sound. While they are flying they are an easy target for your arrows and you are able to kill many of them before the rest disappear. --- Congratulations! You have completed your sixth task. There are only six more to go. Your next labour is to ... [[Capture the Cretan Bull]]

Your next task is to catch the bull that is wandering around the island of Crete and causing trouble. Unfortunately, it is not an ordinary bull. It was given by Poseidon to Minos, the King of Crete, for him to sacrifice back to Poseidon. But Minos was not happy to let such a great animal go to waste and sacrificed another bull instead. Poseidon was not pleased. He filled the bull with anger and it went wild across the island of Crete, destroying everything it could. First, you have to get to Crete. --- [[Take a boat to Crete]] [[Swim to Crete]]

You step onto the nearest boat and command it to head to Crete. As the boat travels over the water you build your strength by eating roast beef and drinking wine. Taking the boat was definitely the better option. You arrive at Crete and are greeted by King Minos. --- [[Ask Minos if you can take the bull back to Mycenae]]

You dive into the nearest sea and head in the direction of Crete. After a few kilometres you feel your mighty arms start to tire slightly. You think that if you're going to wrestle a bull when you arrive, you'll need all the strength you have. Maybe the boat is the wiser option. You head back to land. --- [[Take a boat to Crete]]

Of course, you don't really have to ask. You're just being polite. Although he hesitated to sacrifice the bull to Poseidon, he is quite happy to have you take it away now. It seems like the bull has been causing all kinds of trouble for King Minos. He points you in the direction of the last bull sighting. --- [[Head towards the bull]]

After a short walk you come across the bull destroying an orchard. He notices you at once and charges toward you. Compared to the lion and the hydra, the bull is relatively easy to control. The fight takes just three short hours. Within a week you are back in Mycenae with the bull. Congratulations! Your seventh task is complete. --- Your next labour is to ... [[Capture the Mares of Diomedes]]

The Mares of Diomedes are four horses who have been driven mad by being fed human flesh by their owner, Diomedes, the king of the island of Thrace. Your labour is to capture them and bring them back. You sail to Thrace and make your way to where the horses are kept in a bronze manger. --- [[Ask the grooms nicely if you can free the horses]] [[Free the horses by force]]

You ask the grooms to stand aside. Unsurprisingly, they refuse and stand their ground. --- [[Free the horses by force]]

You easily overpower the grooms and free the horses from their iron chains. You gently lead them to higher ground then head back to the beach. You see Diomedes and his men approach. You know you can beat them but think there must be an easier way. You think back to the Augean stables and an idea springs to mind. --- [[Dig a trench from the sea]]

You quickly dig a trench from the sea and allow the water to flood the plain. The rushing water surprises Diomedes and his men and they turn to flee. You chase Diomedes and knock him out with a blow to the head and drag him back to the horses. They look hungry. --- [[Allow the horses to eat Diomedes]] [[Tell the horses not to eat Diomedes]]

The horses feast on the flesh of their former master and suddenly become calm, making them much easier to control. You ferry them on a boat back to Mycenae, completing your eighth labour. Congratulations! Only four to go. --- Your next labour is to ... [[Get the girdle of Hippolyta]]

You tell the horses not to eat Diomedes. They stare at you blankly because they are wild and have no idea what you are saying. They feast on the flesh of their former master and you decide to let them go ahead. Suddenly, they become calm, making them much easer to control. You ferry them on a boat back to Mycenae, completing your eighth labour. Congratulations! Only four to go. --- Your next labour is to ... [[Get the girdle of Hippolyta]]

Your next task is to take the girdle of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, and take it back to Mycenae for King E's daughter. You set sail for the river Thermodon. Soon after you arrive, Hippolyta visits you on your ship. She is impressed by your muscular body and offers to give you the girdle as a gift. This task seems to be easier than you imagined. You are about to take the girdle when you hear noise from outside. --- [[Go and check what the noise is]]

You step outside the cabin and see an army of Amazons charging towards your ship. Hera must have been spreading rumours about your intentions. It seems this task will not be bloodless after all. --- [[Kill Hippolyta then attack the other Amazons]] [[Spare Hippolyta then attack the other Amazons]]

Pulling your sword from its sheath, you slay Hippolyta then dive into the water to battle the rest of the Amazon army. Much blood is spilt but you are victorious. The girdle is yours. --- Congratulations. You have completed the ninth labour. Your next labour is to ... [[Capture the cattle of Geryon]]

Geryon is rumoured to be the strongest man alive. He has three bodies, three heads and six arms. His cattle are guarded by his two-headed dog, Orthrus. As you make your way to Geryon's home in Erytheia you find yourself attacked by the fierce heat of the sun. --- [[Shake your fist at the sun]] [[Fire an arrow at the sun]]

You stand as tall as you can and shake your fist in anger at the hot sun. Nothing happens. It's still hot. It seems it will take more to get the sun's attention. --- [[Fire an arrow at the sun]]

The arrow shoots straight upward and you lose sight of it in the sun's glare. Although he was not harmed, Helios, the god of the sun, is impressed by your bravery. He gives you his golden cup, which he uses to move from the west to the east each night. The cup makes it easy for you to arrive in Erytheia in no time at all. You soon meet the two-headed dog, Orthrus. --- [[Tell Orthrus he is a good boy and scratch behind his ears]] [[Hit Orthrus over the head with a club]]

You tell Orthrus he's a good boy and he raises an eyebrow. It's clear there will be no ear scratching today. He rushes at you but is killed by a single blow from your mighty club. Geryon soon joins the battle with his three helmets, three swords and three shields. --- [[Fire an ordinary arrow at Geryon]] [[Fire a poisoned arrow at Geryon]]

Orthrus rushes at you but is killed by a single blow from your mighty club. Geryon soon joins the battle with his three helmets, three swords and three shields. --- [[Fire an ordinary arrow at Geryon]] [[Fire a poisoned arrow at Geryon]]

The arrow flies through the air and hits Geryon in the forehead. He pulls it out easily. It seems he is in no pain at all. He throws the arrow on the ground. --- [[Fire a poisoned arrow at Geryon]]

The poisoned arrow flies through the air and hits Geryon in the forehead. He pulls it out easily and it seems he is in no pain at all until he falls to his knees. It isn't long before the Hydra's poison takes his heartbeat away from him. It takes a while but you manage to herd the cattle back to Mycenae, where Eurystheus sacrifices them to Hera. --- Congratulations! You have completed the tenth task. Your labours are almost complete. Your next labour is to ... [[Steal the golden apples of the Hesperides]]

In the garden of the Hesperides is a magical apple tree owned by Hera and guarded by Ladon, a dragon with one hundred heads. Your task is to find the garden and bring back some apples from the tree. --- [[Go to the ocean and catch Nereus, the old man of the sea]]

You make your way to the ocean and capture Nereus, the old man of the sea. He changes his shape many times to try to escape you but you hold tight. --- [[Ask Nereus the location of the garden of the Hesperides]]

Nereus is happy to give you the information you need if it will free him from your arms. He tells you the garden is on Mount Atlas and that you must not take the apples yourself. He advises that you should get Atlas to do it for you. You head towards Mount Atlas and soon come face to face with Atlas, who holds the heavens on his shoulders. --- [[Offer to give Atlas a break if he can get some apples for you]]

Atlas is very pleased by your offer, but his pleasure soon disappears when he remembers Ladon, the dragon with a hundred heads. You fire a poisoned arrow over the garden wall and hear Ladon's painful death. Atlas carefully places the heavens on your shoulders and goes off to get some apples from his daughters, the Hesperides. It is not long before he returns. He has a tricky look in his eye. He offers to take the apples to Eurystheus himself if you will hold up the heavens for a bit longer. --- [[Agree. You are sure Atlas will return]] [[Disagree. You are sure Atlas is lying. You will never see him again]] [[Agree, but only if he can take the heavens for just a moment while you adjust your clothes into a more comfortable arrangement]]

You are about to agree when you remember that everyone you have met has either lied to you or tried to kill you. You need to get rid of this burden. --- [[Agree, but only if he can take the heavens for just a moment while you adjust your clothes into a more comfortable arrangement]] [[Disagree. You are sure Atlas is lying. You will never see him again]]

You are about to call Atlas out on his obvious lie but think better of it. After all, what are you going to do? Drop the heavens? Maybe it's better to play along for now. --- [[Agree, but only if he can take the heavens for just a moment while you adjust your clothes into a more comfortable arrangement]]

You agree to Atlas' suggestion. It's only fair that he can take a break now and then. Atlas see the sense in letting you adjust yourself for the month ahead and takes the heavens back on his own shoulders. You pick up the apples and step away from Atlas. You adjust your clothes. You take another step back. And another. Atlas realises he has been tricked as he intended to trick you. --- Congratulations! You have completed your eleventh labour. Only one more to go. Hopefully it'll be an easy one. Oh no! Your next labour is to ... [[Go to the underworld and return with Cerebus, Hades' three-headed dog]]

Your last labour is the most challenging. You have to travel to the underworld and somehow come back with Hades' three-headed dog, Cerebus. First you head to Eleusius to cleanse and prepare yourself. When you are ready, you make the descent into the underworld. With Athena's guidance you find yourself on the banks of the River Styx. Charon, the ferryman, stands before you. --- [[Give Charon an angry look and demand he take you across the river]] [[Plead with Charon to take you across the river]]

You order Charon to take you across the river. He is so fearful that he does not consider what punishment he may get from Hades and takes you across. On the opposite shore you meet Hades and his wife, Persephone. You tell Hades of your labour and he agrees to let you take Cerebus if you can do so without any weapons. You grab Cerebus by the throat and try to make him surrender. His three heads snap at you and his barbed tail tries to cut your body. T hanks to your protective lion fur you are able to hold on until he gives up. --- [[Return to Mycenae]]

You drop to your knees and beg for Charon to take you across the river. The fear drops from his eyes and he refuses. Maybe, he thinks, Heracles is not as mighty as he has heard. --- [[Give Charon an angry look and demand he take you across the river]]

You return to Mycenae with the three-headed dog of Hades. Eurystheus, who has become increasingly fearful of your power, asks you to return the dog to Hades and announces that you have completed your labours. Now free of your labours you decide to ... --- [[Start a farm and live a peaceful life]] [[Head off for further adventures]]

Seriously? Can you see yourself growing carrots or potatoes? Having completed your labours you adjust your lion skin and make sure you have plenty of poisoned arrows then head off for further adventures. The gods have not finished with you yet. --- The End. Thank you for playing.

Having completed your labours you adjust your lion skin and make sure you have plenty of poisoned arrows and head off for further adventures. The gods have not finished with you yet. --- The End. Thank you for playing.

You have ten labours to complete. But maybe it's eleven, or twelve, or thirteen? Anyway, these are the labours we know about. [[Kill the Nemean Lion]] [[Kill the Lernaen Hydra]] [[Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis]] [[Capture the Erymanthian Boar]] [[Clean the Augean stables in a day]] [[Kill the Stymphalian Birds]] [[Capture the Cretan Bull]] [[Capture the Mares of Diomedes]] [[Get the girdle of Hippolyta]] [[Capture the cattle of Geryon]] [[Steal the golden apples of the Hesperides]] [[Go to the underworld and return with Cerebus, Hades' three-headed dog]]

As you pick up the lion you remember how strong its fur is. It could be useful protection in your future tasks. --- [[Remove the lion's fur]]

You aim carefully at the beast's legs and let go. Your aim is true! The arrow goes through the skin but does not hit bone or muscle. You lift the animal onto your shoulders and begin the walk to Mycenae. After a while you meet the goddess Artemis in your path. She is furious and demands to know what you are doing with her hind. --- [[Explain your situation to Artemis]] [[Try to run away]]

You decide to let Hippolyta live and begin to prepare for battle. As you ready yourself to dive into the water to fight her sisters she stands in front of you, sword in hand, and tells you to stop. Pulling your sword from its sheath, you slay Hippolyta then dive into the water to battle the rest of the Amazon army. Much blood is spilt but you are victorious. The girdle is yours. --- Congratulations. You have completed the ninth labour. Your next labour is to ... [[Capture the cattle of Geryon]]

This is a text-based interactive fiction game representing the twelve labours of Heracles. In each scene you will be presented with some information. Click on the coloured text to move the story forward or to make a choice between options. You cannot die or fail in this game. If you make an unwise decision, the game will move you back to the main story path. --- Click or tap on the text below to begin ... [[The Labours of Heracles]] If you want to jump to a particular labour, go to the ... [[List of Labours]]