My Own Private Thermopylae is the twenty-first level in Marathon 2: Durandal and the third level in Blake, the eighth chapter of the game. Two more of Thoth's personality cells must be activated here.
The level contains numerous Pfhor Troopers and Cyborgs, as well as a few Simulacrums. There are also allied BOBs here.
There is a 1x shield recharger in the first room. Just west of that room, a pattern buffer can be found. An oxygen replenisher is located in the south personality cell room, with a 1x shield recharger just south of it. Another 1x shield recharger is found in the north personality cell room.
Walkthrough[]
Hit the buttons in the first room to reveal three different paths. The west path leads to a pattern buffer. There is also a 1x shield recharger in the starting area.
There are two different personality cells in this level you can activate in either order. Each one of the two northern paths in the starting room leads to a different personality cell.
South personality cell[]
The northeast exit from the starting room takes you to some automated crushers. At the west end of the crusher room, you'll find an elevator that takes you up. Head northeast to find a corridor running between several small water pools. At the far end, turn left and follow the ledge around to a 1x shield recharger. The button next to it opens the door to a personality cell room; the button you have to hit to activate it is inside, along with an oxygen replenisher.
After activating the personality cell, you can either head back the way you came to the starting room, or jump into the large water pool with a column of water in it and swim to the western ledge to take a shortcut on the path toward the other personality cell. If you take the shortcut you'll end up at the besieged BOBs described below.
North personality cell[]
The northwest exit from the starting room leads to an area with several water tanks. Make your way to the central room, where you'll find a MA-75B Assault Rifle/Grenade Launcher. Get to the elevator at the northeast end of this room and ride it up. Follow the path northwest until you find a group of BOBs being besieged by Pfhor. Help them clear the area, then follow the corridor leading north.
You'll end up in a large, water-filled hall. Jump across to the stairs to the east, and follow them up. At the end of the ledge, jump to the west platform to find some ammo, then jump to the north stairway and follow it eastward to find a personality cell room. The button to activate the personality cell is next to a 1x shield recharger. After you hit the button, make your way back to the stairs in the previous room and follow them up. If you jump to the west platform, you'll be able to reach the entrance of the room. Now return to the start of the level.
Once both personality cells have been activated, access the terminal in the pattern buffer room to be teleported to Kill Your Television.
Secrets[]
A button next to the pattern buffer activates a rapidly moving elevator next to you. Get on this elevator and interact with the north wall to open a small alcove with a SPNKR SSM Launcher. See 'B' on the map above.
A secret terminal can be accessed in the north-eastern section of the level, at the 'Y' junction at the north end of the walkway between small pools of water. Interact with the wall there to access the terminal.
Terminals []
acropolis.piltdown//004121.25.1[]
This terminal contains a message from Robert Blake. He explains that some of his men were trapped nearby during a Pfhor ambush, and asks you to rescue them. (Note: despite Blake's message, the only true objective in this level is two activate the two personality cells.)
After the personality cells have been turned on, Blake congratulates you. He says that everyone is talking about your exploits seventeen years ago, when the Pfhor invaded the Tau Ceti colony and the Marathon.
common.set <2e0xcxx3.465.2>[]
This hidden terminal contains a cryptic message from what appears to be Durandal, who says he will return. He tells you to beware; the mythical Thoth (the ancient Egyptian god) was concerned with maintaining a balance between light and darkness, good and evil. This could imply that Thoth may not work towards achieving a complete victory over the Pfhor invaders when he is awakened—after all, if all the Pfhor are dead, the situation is hardly balanced.
Trivia[]
- Thermopylae is a place in Greece where, in ancient times, a small force of Greeks (including, notably, 300 Spartans) held off a massive Persian army at a narrow pass for several days in a heroic final stand. Halfway through the level, you'll find a group of BOBs who are making a last stand against the Pfhor.
Sources[]
Marathon 2: Durandal - Level 21: My Own Private Thermopylae