[In the deepest depths of the Underworld, the house of the lord of the dead is eerily quiet. Not the petrified silence punctuated by the barked commands and harsh dismissals of Hades himself, but simply... quiet. Ghostly, indistinct forms of shades mill around as ever, talking to one another in hushed voices, but as Zagreus enters, the only familiar face he sees is the great three-headed dog by the throne, looking dejected but perking up when its three sets of eyes spots the prince.]

Hey, boy. Where'd everyone go? They all take a break at the same time? Staff meeting? No surprise we're not invited, I suppose.

[He reaches up to pet the right most head, and the giant dog and nuzzles into him for affection. Still, it's strange for the house to be completely unattended except for its faithful guard dog, he has to admit, but someone will be back soon. Maybe. Hopefully.]

[Fear is for the weak. It was a mantra Achilles drilled into him as part of his training, and for the most part, it succeeded. There are few things Zagreus truly fears, least of all his father.

But this new wretch, a foe he'd never battled before, a giant wielding chains and ice, seemed almost to resemble some shadowy doppelganger of his father. And it was hunting him ruthlessly through the chambers of Tartarus. It taunted him in a distorted voice like his father's and yet not, promising if it caught up to him, it wouldn't kill him -- on the contrary, he'd be stripped of his power and confined to that chamber for an eternity. Never escaping, never seeing anyone, not even getting the reprieve of death. Alone.

And he didn't know how to defeat it. There was no room for his usual brand of reckless trial and error. If he lost here, there would be no second chances, not ever again. Everything, truly, would have been for nothing.

Whoever's helped him fight this far through Tartarus -- or at least get away in one piece -- he turns to them now, gripping his Stygian blade hard to disguise how his hands are trembling. With fear? Or perhaps frustration, rage, even, at the hopelessness of it all?]

...I appreciate the help, but you should leave me now. That thing is after me, not you.

[Want to play out your own character's fears/desires? Use one of their locations instead? Or jump ahead to a later part of the event? hit me up via pm or moonsilver. I'm pretty much down for anything!]