Thanatos guides Ares across the River Styx, carrying the surviving traces in a sealed funerary vessel. The marked shades follow in silence toward the Underworld gates.
Cerberus watches from beyond the landing, three heads raised and hackles bristling at the vessel. He recognizes Ares, but growls toward the black seals within.
Thanatos
Stay close. The traces are quiet for now, but they are not inert. Something answers them from below.
The procession enters the Underworld proper. Asphodel lies pale in the distance, while Tartarus yawns beyond Hades' palace, its depths hidden beneath ancient darkness.
Hades
Thanatos. Ares. Bring the vessel inside. I felt the boundary shudder before you reached the shore.
Hades waits in the palace overlooking the three regions, composed but tense. The instant Thanatos sets the vessel down, black seals pulse beneath the marble floor.
Thanatos
The intrusion crossed with the dead. It was beneath Zukalina's field, but its path now leads toward Tartarus.
✓ Quest Accepted
Contain the seals' advance
““Uncle, there is an invading army on the southern shores as we speak. Athena is leading the defenses, but the shades from our most recent battle bear marks that did not come from combat. One of the shades accuses Zukalina, the leader of the invaders, of allying with whatever did this to the shades.””
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -1)
Ares
Uncle, an invading army is on the southern shores. Athena leads the defenses, but the shades bear marks no battle made. One accuses Zukalina of allying with whatever marked them.
Ares's report fills the chamber. Beneath the marble, the black seals pulse once, and the funerary vessel answers with a low, hollow tremor.
Hades
Then Zukalina's invasion and this assault on the dead are joined until proven otherwise. Athena will hold the shores, but I will not leave her to face this alone.
Thanatos
The shade named an ally beneath the earth. The vessel confirms the trail leads toward Tartarus, though Zukalina's guilt remains an accusation, not proof.
Hades places one hand over the vessel. A ring of pale fire spreads across the floor, sealing the black pulses and silencing their answer from below.
Hades
Thanatos, guard these traces. I will send word to Athena and reinforce the southern defenses. Ares, you have done rightly by bringing this to me.
Hades
Now the dead are under my protection, Corinth is warned, and the force beneath Tartarus will be confronted before it reaches another soul.
Confront the force beneath Tartarus
Quest Complete
Contain the seals' advance