Travelling the Underworld

I walked the black plains of the Underworld, slowly approaching the palace of Hades himself. All around me, souls of the damned suffered through eternal torture. Occasionally, one would disappear and another would reappear in their place, as the souls took their place as the face of their lord. As I traveled, I could feel eyes on me. The servants of Hades were watching me, determining if I were a threat.

The pack slowly but surely circled around me. Timberwolves, they called themselves. As they surrounded me, three stepped forward. The Kindly Ones, as they were known.

"You seek our lord, this we know," one said to me.

"But you'll find that he shall have no visitors to see him..." Another spoke.

"Though, if you'd be willing to hold still, you might get even closer to him than you imagined..." The third whispered to me. I had no idea when she'd gotten close enough to hold the knife to my back, but I knew that my time had nearly come...

However, I had one more ace in the hole, as it were.

I won't tell you what it is I did, but it was enough to make the Timberwolves leave me be. I reached the gates of Hades' palace. Only one obstacle remained before I could truly approach him...

Stygia

At last! I've found my way to the realm of Hades! Now only one obstacle lies before me...

The ferryman says nothing as I step aboard and pay the two coins. He sighs and begins rowing, and that's when Stygia speaks.

"Why do you perform this fool's errand? I could make you forget her. Forget all your woes. All you must do is drink."

Somehow, the river gets within my mind. For one moment, all I want to do is bend down and drink from the river. My mouth dries, my throat stings...

However, in a moment it has passed. Somehow, my resolve returns. There is nothing that will stop me in my quest, I am certain of it.

The black maw of the Underworld stretches before me, and I know what I must do.

Travels

I've continued in my travels for... well, I'm not sure how long. It's been a long time though. Many nights have I pined for my lost love, and many days have I traveled towards my final destination. However, I know that I draw ever closer, and it gives me strength.

Today, however, the Harpies descended upon me. They, too, spoke to me, in the wretched tones of a thousand voices of the damned risen in the same chorus.

You travel to your death, fool. You think that Hades will accept your pleas, but he will slay you, and take you into his fold as well.

Despite their constant chatter, I pressed through. They descended ever closer, and for a moment I feared they intended to tear me apart and feast upon me. But soon enough, they flew away, leaving me with only my quest.

The Dryad

I should have known there would be resistance to my journey.

The Dryad found me today. She tried to lure me off the path, she told me that my journey was a fool's errand... Her words were empty, her face cold and cruel. After all, wood made flesh can hardly be considered to have a soul.

I continued on my path, and yet she did nothing to stop me. For a moment, I worried. Why would the Dryad simply let me continue? Did she expect me to fall in my quest? But no, she must have seen that her efforts would have been for naught. I would move heaven and earth for Eurydice, I won't let a woman of wood stop me!

Meeting Tiresias

I found Tiresias today. He hid from me, but I found him out! He whispered things to me. He told me where I could find Hades, and where I could find its dark lord. He took a price though. A dear price. Though, when I have Eurydice back, what use will I have for my memories of my mother's face? Or of my dead sister's laugh? No, when Eurydice is back, I will have no need for anything but her...

Finding Eurydice

She's gone now. I should have known it would happen sooner or later, but she's been taken from me...

I need to find her. I need to find her and I need to bring her back. I need to find Hades, and I need to find the ruler of that infernal realm. I'll plead my case to him, and he'll be sure to bring her back! Yes... Yes, that's it!

And I know exactly where to start. I must find Tiresias, the blind prophet, and he shall guide me. Yes, tomorrow I'll set out.