Heros Journey Pt 1

Heros Journey 

1. The Ordinary World 

Kratos, the Spartan warrior once in the service of the Greek gods, has become their sworn enemy. Having been betrayed by Zeus, he has already spent much of his life fighting his way through Greek myth, fueled by vengeance for the gods’ roles in his family’s death. However, the start of God of War III finds him cast down into the Underworld once again, still stripped of his power and haunted by his memories. 

2. The Call to Adventure 

Kratos’ call to adventure is clear: he must destroy Zeus, the king of the gods, and put an end to Mount Olympus once and for all. His former mentor, Athena, now in a spectral form, appears to guide him, urging Kratos to continue his war against the gods and free humanity from their tyrannical rule. Despite his mistrust, she offers Kratos a new weapon, the Blades of Exile, and tells him of Pandora’s Box, which holds the power he will need to defeat Zeus. 

3. Refusal of the Call 

Kratos’ entire journey is fueled by rage, but moments of doubt flicker within him. Haunted by visions of his family and the innocent lives he’s destroyed, he questions whether vengeance can truly bring him peace. Yet, any hesitation is crushed by his unyielding fury toward Zeus and the gods who betrayed him. 

4. Meeting with the Mentor 

Athena serves as Kratos’ primary guide, despite her ghostly, detached form. Though he once killed her, she appears to have transcended her mortality and claims to support his quest for revenge. She provides Kratos with both weapons and knowledge of Pandora’s Box, a key artifact that can grant him the strength to challenge Olympus. 

5. Crossing the First Threshold 

Armed and determined, Kratos ascends Mount Olympus alongside the Titans, colossal beings also bent on overthrowing the gods. However, Zeus and the gods are not defenseless. In a fierce battle with Poseidon, Kratos kills the god of the sea, but at a terrible cost. Zeus retaliates, hurling Kratos back down into the Underworld, where he must face his greatest fears and inner demons once again before continuing his ascent. 

6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies 

In the Underworld, Kratos encounters Hades, god of the dead, as well as various other deities and mythical creatures who stand between him and his vengeance. Along the way, he battles enemies such as Hermes, Hercules, and Hera, each encounter testing his resilience, skills, and commitment to his goal. Kratos also meets Pandora, a mysterious young girl linked to Pandora’s Box, who becomes both a guide and a symbol of hope within his dark journey. 

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave 

As he fights his way back to the heights of Olympus, Kratos comes to understand the purpose of Pandora’s Box and the key role that Pandora herself plays. The box is protected by powerful mechanisms, including the Flame of Olympus, which Kratos cannot penetrate without sacrificing Pandora. This puts him in a moral dilemma, as his relationship with Pandora begins to echo the love he once had for his daughter. He must face his own emotional barriers before he can unlock the power needed to confront Zeus. 

8. The Ordeal 

The ordeal is Kratos’ ultimate confrontation with Zeus. However, before he can fight his father, he faces the realization that opening Pandora’s Box requires the ultimate sacrifice. Despite Pandora’s own insistence, Kratos struggles, conflicted over whether he can let her die. Eventually, with heavy heart, he agrees to let Pandora sacrifice herself, unleashing the box’s power. 

9. Reward (Seizing the Sword) 

Opening Pandora’s Box grants Kratos a newfound strength. However, he discovers that the box’s true power lies not in physical strength but in Hope, a force that has lain dormant within him all along. Armed with this power, Kratos is ready to face Zeus one last time, driven not only by vengeance but by a glimmer of something greater. 

10. The Road Back 

After defeating Zeus, Kratos finds himself in a surreal confrontation with his own inner demons, reliving his past traumas and acknowledging the darkness within himself. By embracing Hope and understanding his journey, he achieves a sense of inner peace and closure regarding his family and past choices.